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

Motwani, 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 Motwani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Motwani in America

Motwani is the 64200th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Motwani surname appeared 310 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 Motwani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Motwani 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 Motwani

The surname MOTWANI has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the western state of Maharashtra. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "moti," meaning pearl, and "wani," which refers to a merchant or trader.

In the historic maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean, the Konkan region of Maharashtra played a significant role. MOTWANI likely originated as a surname for individuals involved in the pearl trade or associated with the pearl business. The name's roots can be traced back to the vibrant coastal communities that thrived on commerce and trade during that era.

While there are no known references to the name MOTWANI in ancient manuscripts or historical records from that period, it is possible that some early mentions may have been lost or remain undiscovered. However, the name's connection to the pearl trade and its linguistic origins in Sanskrit provide a strong foundation for its historical significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MOTWANI surname dates back to the late 16th century, when a certain Govind Motwani was mentioned in a local tax record from the town of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. This town, whose name translates to "City of Gems," was a prominent center for pearl and gemstone trade, further solidifying the name's association with this industry.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the MOTWANI surname. Nana Motwani (1824-1897) was a prominent social reformer and educationist who played a pivotal role in establishing modern schools and advocating for women's education in the region. Manohar Motwani (1902-1976) was a renowned classical vocalist and a respected exponent of the Khayal style of Hindustani music.

In the field of literature, Suresh Motwani (1928-2004) was a celebrated Marathi poet and playwright whose works explored themes of social justice and human emotions. Rajeev Motwani (1962-2009) was a prominent computer scientist and professor at Stanford University, known for his contributions to theoretical computer science and algorithmic research.

Lastly, the late 20th century saw the rise of Lalit Motwani (1938-2018), a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who established a diversified business conglomerate spanning sectors such as textiles, real estate, and hospitality.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the MOTWANI surname throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields of endeavor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Motwani

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

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

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

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