2000
#84,310
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 207
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Motwani
An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Matwani" meaning a gardener or villager.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 471 Americans carry the last name Motwani. That puts it at #54,177 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 727,716 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Motwani surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
471
1 in 727,716
Census rank
#54,177
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
411
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 411 bearers of the surname Motwani in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54177th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Motwani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.8%. The next largest groups are White (5.6%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Motwani
Among Census respondents with the surname Motwani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.8%. The next largest groups are White (5.6%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Motwani bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Motwani surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander87.8% · 361
- White5.6% · 23
- Two or more races4.1% · 17
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 7
- Black or African American0.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Motwani
Motwani appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#64,200
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 310
+103 bearers (+49.8%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 20,110 places
2020
#54,177
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 411
+101 bearers (+32.6%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Up 10,023 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #84,310 | 207 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #64,200 | 310 | 0.11 | +103 bearers (+49.8%) | Up 20,110 places |
| 2020 | #54,177 | 411 | 0.14 | +101 bearers (+32.6%) | Up 10,023 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Motwani surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #64,200 | #54,177 | 15.6% |
| Count | 310 | 411 | 32.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.14 | 25.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Motwani bearers went from 310 to 411 (+32.6% change). The surname moved up 10,023 positions in the national ranking, going from #64,200 to #54,177.
FAQ
Motwani surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Motwani?
Name Census estimates that about 471 living Americans carry the surname Motwani. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 727,716 residents.
How common is Motwani?
Motwani ranks #54,177 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 411 people with the surname Motwani. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (471), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.14 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.14 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Motwani.
Has Motwani become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Motwani went from 310 recorded bearers to 411. That is an increase of 101 (+32.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #64,200 to #54,177.
What does the Census say about the background of Motwani?
Among Census respondents with the surname Motwani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.8%. The next largest groups are White (5.6%) and Two or More Races (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Motwani in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.8% (361 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Motwani appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (87.8%), White (5.6%), Two or More Races (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Motwani (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Motwani mean?
An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Matwani" meaning a gardener or villager. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Motwani (0.14 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Motwani?
Want to know how many people are called Motwani? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.