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

Melwani, 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 Melwani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melwani in America

Melwani is the 84748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melwani surname appeared 221 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 Melwani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melwani 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 Melwani

The surname Melwani originated in India, specifically in the western state of Gujarat. The name has its roots dating back to the 16th century, with the earliest known references appearing in local records and manuscripts from that time period.

Melwani is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "mel," which means "to meet" or "to gather." This suggests that the name may have been associated with professions or occupations that involved bringing people together, such as traders, merchants, or community leaders.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Melwani name can be found in a historical text from the late 16th century, which chronicles the activities of a prominent Gujarati merchant family by that name. This document provides insight into the role that Melwani traders played in facilitating trade between regions within India and neighboring countries.

In the 17th century, the name Melwani began appearing in various official records and documents related to land ownership and taxation in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. This indicates that members of the Melwani community had established themselves as landowners and influential figures in the local society.

Notable individuals with the Melwani surname throughout history include Kanjibhai Melwani (1848-1923), a respected educator and philanthropist who established several schools and educational institutions in Gujarat. Another prominent figure was Vrajlal Melwani (1892-1964), a successful businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in India.

The Melwani name has also been associated with several place names and localities in Gujarat, such as Melwani village in the Bhavnagar district. This further highlights the historical significance and deep-rooted presence of the Melwani community in the region.

Other notable individuals with the Melwani surname include Karsandas Melwani (1790-1862), a prominent trader and landowner in the 19th century, and Karamchand Melwani (1875-1945), a respected social reformer and advocate for women's education.

The Melwani surname has a rich history deeply intertwined with the cultural and economic fabric of Gujarat, with its origins tracing back to the 16th century and a legacy of influential individuals who have contributed significantly to various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melwani

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

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

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

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