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

Naidu, 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 Naidu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naidu in America

Naidu is the 18317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naidu surname appeared 1,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Naidu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naidu 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 Naidu

The surname Naidu has its origins in India and is derived from the Telugu language, which is spoken predominantly in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The name Naidu is a title that was historically used to refer to the leaders or chieftains of various communities or villages in these regions.

Naidu is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "Nayaka," which means "leader" or "chief." Over time, the word underwent linguistic changes and evolved into the Telugu word "Naidu," which became a hereditary title passed down through generations within certain families or communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Naidu can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled parts of southern India from the 14th to the 17th century. Several historical records and inscriptions from this era mention individuals bearing the title "Naidu" as leaders or administrators in various regions.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Naidu was Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949), a renowned Indian political activist, poet, and a prominent figure in India's struggle for independence from British rule. She was born in Hyderabad and played a significant role in the Indian National Congress. Sarojini Naidu was also known as the "Nightingale of India" for her poetic works.

Another prominent individual with the surname Naidu was Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (1923-1996), popularly known as N.T. Rama Rao or NTR. He was an Indian actor, filmmaker, and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1983 to 1995. NTR played a pivotal role in the formation of the Telugu Desam Party and was instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the state.

In more recent history, P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921-2004) was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. He is credited with initiating major economic reforms in India, which paved the way for the country's economic liberalization.

Another notable figure with the surname Naidu is Nara Chandrababu Naidu (born 1950), an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2014 to 2019. He is the founder and former president of the Telugu Desam Party.

Lastly, M. Venkaiah Naidu (born 1949) is an Indian politician who currently serves as the 13th Vice President of India since 2017. He previously held various ministerial positions in the Indian government and was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

While the surname Naidu has its roots in southern India, particularly in the Telugu-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of the country and can be found among various communities and linguistic groups. The name continues to hold significance and historical relevance as a title associated with leadership and administrative roles in the past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naidu

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

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

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

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