Find out how popular the last name Kurien is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kurien.

Kurien, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kurien surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kurien in America

Kurien is the 49268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kurien surname appeared 427 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kurien.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kurien to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kurien

The surname Kurien traces its origins to India, specifically the southern state of Kerala. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kuril," which refers to a type of caste or community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kurien name appears in ancient Malayalam literature, particularly in the works of renowned poets and scholars from the region. Historical records indicate that the name was prominent among certain influential families and prominent figures in the region during the medieval era.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the Kurien surname was Kunjikuttan Kurien, a renowned scholar and poet from the Malankara region of Kerala. He was known for his contributions to Malayalam literature and his expertise in various fields, including astronomy and astrology.

Another significant figure was Kurian Kodiyattu, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the late 17th century. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes and facilitating commercial exchanges between Kerala and other regions, significantly contributing to the region's economic prosperity during that time.

In the 19th century, Kurien Markose, a social reformer and educator, played a pivotal role in promoting education and advocating for social changes in Kerala. He established several schools and educational institutions, focusing on providing educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.

One of the most notable individuals with the Kurien surname was Dr. Verghese Kurien, born in 1921 and often referred to as the "Milkman of India." He was a renowned social entrepreneur and the founder of the Amul cooperative movement, which revolutionized the dairy industry in India and empowered millions of farmers.

Another prominent figure was Dr. George Kurien, a respected academic and scholar born in 1916. He made significant contributions to the field of economics and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala.

While the Kurien surname is most commonly associated with the Indian state of Kerala, it has also been found in other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of Kerala.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kurien

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kurien.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kurien was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kurien has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kurien was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kurien, please contact us.

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