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

Malhotra, 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 Malhotra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Malhotra in America

Malhotra is the 10046th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Malhotra surname appeared 3,206 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 Malhotra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Malhotra 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 Malhotra

The surname Malhotra is of Indian origin, specifically from the Punjab region. It is believed to have originated during the 16th century, deriving from the Sanskrit words 'malla' meaning wrestler and 'itra' meaning perfume. The name suggests associations with individuals involved in wrestling or the perfume trade.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Malhotra name can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text refers to a village named 'Malhotra' in the present-day state of Haryana, indicating the name's deep-rooted history in the region.

In the 18th century, the Malhotra surname gained prominence when Rai Kalha Malhotra, a renowned military commander, served under the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Rai Kalha Malhotra played a crucial role in several military campaigns and is celebrated for his bravery and strategic acumen.

Another notable figure from history bearing the Malhotra name is Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur Malhotra, born in 1892. She was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution. Amrit Kaur Malhotra's contributions to the Indian independence movement and the shaping of modern India are widely recognized.

In the realm of literature, Khushwant Singh Malhotra (1915-2014) was a celebrated Indian author, journalist, and diplomat. His works, including novels, short stories, and historical accounts, provided insightful perspectives on Indian culture, history, and social issues. Khushwant Singh Malhotra's writings are considered among the most influential in contemporary Indian literature.

Another notable figure is Atul Malhotra, a renowned Indian classical musician born in 1955. Specializing in the sitar, Atul Malhotra has performed extensively worldwide and has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical music.

The Malhotra surname has a rich history rooted in the Punjab region of India, with its origins dating back to the 16th century. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions to various fields, including military, politics, literature, and the arts, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Malhotra

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

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

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

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