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

Motiwala, 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 Motiwala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Motiwala in America

Motiwala is the 63698th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Motiwala surname appeared 313 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 Motiwala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Motiwala 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 Motiwala

The surname MOTIWALA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Gujarat, located in western India. The name is derived from two words in the Gujarati language: "moti," meaning pearls, and "wala," meaning a seller or trader. Thus, MOTIWALA refers to someone who was involved in the pearl trade or dealing with pearls.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname MOTIWALA can be traced back to the 16th century, when the pearl trade flourished in the coastal regions of Gujarat. The name is closely associated with the city of Surat, which was a prominent center for pearl trading during the Mughal era. Several historical records from that period mention individuals with the surname MOTIWALA, indicating their involvement in the pearl business.

One notable figure from history who bore the surname MOTIWALA was Shantidas Motiwala (1720-1785), a wealthy pearl merchant from Surat. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and contributed significantly to the development of the city. Another prominent individual was Nanubhai Motiwala (1825-1890), a successful pearl trader who established a thriving business in Mumbai (then known as Bombay).

In the 19th century, the MOTIWALA surname spread beyond Gujarat as members of the community migrated to other parts of India and the world in search of better trade opportunities. The name can be found in various historical records and documents from that era, including trade registers and merchant guild records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname outside of India was in the 1870s, when Harilal Motiwala (1845-1920) settled in Zanzibar, East Africa, and established a successful pearl trading business. He played a crucial role in facilitating trade between India and East Africa.

Another notable figure with the surname MOTIWALA was Mohanlal Motiwala (1880-1955), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who was instrumental in the development of the city of Karachi, now in Pakistan. He established several educational institutions and contributed significantly to the welfare of the local community.

Throughout history, the MOTIWALA surname has been associated with the pearl trade and merchants involved in this lucrative business. While the name originated in Gujarat, it has spread across various regions and countries due to the migration of individuals and families engaged in the pearl trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Motiwala

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

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

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

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