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

Nabar, 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 Nabar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nabar in America

Nabar is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nabar surname appeared 124 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 Nabar.

The history of the last name Nabar

The surname Nabar has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, where it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "nab," meaning "navel," and "ar," signifying "to protect" or "to guard." This linguistic root suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person tasked with protecting or guarding a sacred site or a place of spiritual significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nabar can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures, where it is mentioned in connection with a lineage of priests or guardians associated with a particular temple or religious order. However, the exact details of this reference remain obscure due to the scarcity of historical records from that era.

As the centuries passed, the Nabar surname spread across various regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in areas now encompassed by modern-day India and Pakistan. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Nabar Singh, a prominent military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605). Singh's exploits and loyalty to the Mughal Empire are documented in several historical accounts from that period.

Another notable individual was Nabar Khan, a prominent trader and merchant who lived in the 17th century. Khan's trading ventures extended across the Indian Ocean, and he is said to have established successful trading outposts in various ports along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

In the 18th century, the Nabar surname gained prominence in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where a family of landowners and administrators held significant influence. One such figure was Nabar Raghunathan (1745-1819), a respected statesman and advisor to the rulers of the Madurai Nayak dynasty.

Moving into the 19th century, Nabar Govind Rao (1812-1887) was a renowned poet and literary figure who made significant contributions to the Kannada language and literature. His works, which celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the region, are still widely studied and appreciated today.

Throughout its history, the Nabar surname has been associated with various place names and locations across the Indian subcontinent. Some examples include the town of Nabargarh in Rajasthan, which may have derived its name from the presence of a prominent Nabar family or individuals bearing that surname in the area.

While the surname Nabar has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its enduring presence and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nabar

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!