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

Kuruvilla, 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 Kuruvilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kuruvilla in America

Kuruvilla is the 27228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kuruvilla surname appeared 888 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 Kuruvilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kuruvilla 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 Kuruvilla

The surname KURUVILLA originated from the Indian state of Kerala. It is believed to have its roots in the ancient Dravidian language of Tamil, dating back several centuries. The name is derived from the words 'kuru' meaning 'shepherd' and 'villa' meaning 'bow', suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or caste associated with shepherds or archers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KURUVILLA surname can be traced back to the 14th century, where it is mentioned in ancient Malayalam manuscripts and inscriptions found in temples and churches across Kerala. These historical records often referred to individuals from the KURUVILLA family as landowners, warriors, or members of the local nobility.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the KURUVILLA name gained prominence as several members of the family rose to positions of power and influence within the princely states and kingdoms that ruled over parts of Kerala. Notable figures from this period include Kuruvilla Nair (1550-1620), a renowned military commander who served under the Kingdom of Cochin, and Kuruvilla Panicker (1612-1680), a respected scholar and advisor to the Zamorin of Calicut.

As Kerala's history unfolded, the KURUVILLA name continued to be associated with various aristocratic and landowning families, particularly in the regions of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki. In the 19th century, Kuruvilla Cherian (1815-1892), a prominent landowner and community leader, played a significant role in advocating for social reforms and education in his local area.

Another notable figure was Kuruvilla Pandala (1860-1935), a celebrated poet and playwright who made important contributions to Malayalam literature. His works, which often explored themes of social justice and cultural identity, were widely acclaimed and continue to be studied and performed today.

In more recent times, the KURUVILLA surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including academics, artists, and professionals. One such individual was Dr. Kuruvilla Panicker (1921-2007), a renowned physicist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics in India.

The history of the KURUVILLA surname is deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of Kerala, spanning centuries and encompassing individuals from various walks of life, from warriors and nobility to scholars, artists, and intellectuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kuruvilla

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

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 Kuruvilla 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 Kuruvilla 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 Kuruvilla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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