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

Nair, 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 Nair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nair in America

Nair is the 4719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nair surname appeared 7,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Nair.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nair 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 Nair

The surname Nair has its origins in the Indian state of Kerala. It dates back to the 8th century AD and is derived from the Malayalam word 'Nayar', which refers to a prominent caste of warriors and landowners. The Nairs were an influential social group that played a significant role in the history and culture of Kerala.

In ancient times, the Nairs were known for their military prowess and served as the ruling class in various parts of Kerala. They were responsible for the administration and defense of the region under the authority of the local kings or chieftains. The name Nair was a mark of their social status and martial traditions.

The earliest known reference to the Nair surname can be found in the inscriptions and manuscripts from the 9th and 10th centuries AD. These ancient records often mention the names of Nair chieftains, warriors, and landowners, providing insights into their roles in Kerala's society during that period.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Nair surname is Aryan Nair, a prominent military leader and landowner who lived in the 10th century AD. Another notable figure was Unni Nair, a renowned poet and scholar from the 14th century, whose works significantly influenced Malayalam literature.

Throughout history, several Nairs have made significant contributions in various fields. Akkitham Achuthan Nair (1925-2020) was a renowned Malayalam poet and literary critic, while K. Karunakaran Nair (1918-2005) was a prominent politician who served as the Chief Minister of Kerala. T.K. Padmini Nair (1940-2021) was a celebrated Kathakali dancer and actress, known for her performances in several Indian classical dance forms.

Other notable individuals with the Nair surname include P.K. Nair (1933-2010), a renowned filmmaker and screenwriter, and K.P.S. Menon Nair (1886-1965), a distinguished diplomat and statesman who served as India's first Foreign Secretary after independence.

The surname Nair is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Kerala and has a rich history spanning over a millennium. Despite its widespread use, the name continues to hold significance and pride for its bearers, reflecting their connection to the ancient traditions and legacy of the Nair community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nair

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

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

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

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