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

Muthu, 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 Muthu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Muthu in America

Muthu is the 90113th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Muthu surname appeared 205 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 Muthu.

The history of the last name Muthu

The surname MUTHU originates from the Tamil language spoken in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. It traces its roots back to the Sangam period which spanned from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

MUTHU is derived from the Tamil word "muthu" which means pearl. This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals involved in the pearl trade or those who worked with pearls in some capacity. The coastal regions of Tamil Nadu were major centers of pearl fishing and trade in ancient times.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name MUTHU can be found in the Sangam literature, a vast corpus of Tamil poetry and literature from the Sangam period. The name appears in several poems and texts from this era, often referring to individuals involved in the pearl trade or those who possessed great wealth and status.

In the 7th century CE, the Pandyan king Muthu Kumara Pallava is mentioned in historical records. He was a prominent ruler of the Pallava dynasty and his name is believed to have incorporated the word "muthu" which was a common practice among Tamil royalty and nobility at the time.

Another notable individual with the surname MUTHU was Muthu Virappa Nayakkar, a Tamil military commander and administrator who lived in the 16th century. He served under the Nayak rulers of Madurai and played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of their kingdom.

During the 18th century, Muthu Coomaraswamy, a Tamil scholar and writer, gained recognition for his works on Tamil literature and grammar. He was born in 1719 and is considered one of the most influential figures in the preservation and promotion of the Tamil language during the colonial era.

In the 19th century, Muthu Thandavar, a renowned Tamil poet and social reformer, made significant contributions to the literary and social movements of the time. He was born in 1852 and his works often addressed issues of social justice and women's rights.

While the surname MUTHU has its origins in Tamil Nadu, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots and associations with the pearl trade, nobility, and literary traditions of Tamil culture remain deeply embedded in its etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Muthu

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

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 Muthu 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.

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

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

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