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

Lal, 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 Lal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lal in America

Lal is the 8288th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lal surname appeared 3,997 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lal 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 Lal

The surname "Lal" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, tracing its roots back to the Sanskrit language. It is a derivative of the word "lal," which translates to "ruby" or "red." This name likely originated among various communities within the region, potentially reflecting a physical characteristic, occupation, or association with the color red.

One of the earliest known references to the surname "Lal" can be found in medieval Indian texts and records. For instance, the name is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which provides insights into the social and economic conditions of the time.

In the late 12th century, a prominent figure named Ghiyath al-Din Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a Sufi saint and scholar, lived in the region of Sindh, now part of modern-day Pakistan. His legacy and teachings contributed to the spread and recognition of the surname within the region.

Another notable individual bearing the surname "Lal" was Hari Lal, a Hindu poet and writer who lived in the 17th century. He authored several works in the Braj Bhasha language, including the poetic composition "Satsai," which gained widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

In the realm of Indian classical music, the name "Lal" has been associated with several renowned musicians. One such figure was Lal Bahadur Shastri, a renowned vocalist and proponent of the Agra gharana, who lived from 1857 to 1929. His contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian music have been widely recognized.

During the British colonial period in India, the surname "Lal" also appeared in various administrative records and documents. For example, Lal Bahadur Shastri, an influential political leader who served as the second Prime Minister of independent India from 1964 to 1966, bore this surname.

Over the centuries, the surname "Lal" has been present across various regions of the Indian subcontinent, with variations in spelling and pronunciation occurring in different linguistic and cultural contexts. The name has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, musicians, poets, and political figures, reflecting the rich tapestry of Indian history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lal

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

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

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

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