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

Nalan, 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 Nalan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nalan in America

Nalan is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nalan surname appeared 119 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 Nalan.

The history of the last name Nalan

The surname NALAN is believed to have originated in India. It is a variant spelling of the name Nayalan, which is derived from the Tamil word 'Naayakan', meaning a leader or ruler. The name is closely associated with the Nayak dynasty that ruled over parts of South India from the 16th to the 18th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Vijayanagar Empire chronicles, where a military commander named Nayalan is mentioned as serving under the Nayak kings. The name also appears in various Sanskrit manuscripts and inscriptions from the 17th and 18th centuries, often in reference to local chieftains and administrators.

In the 19th century, the name NALAN was recorded in British colonial records, particularly in the regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It was often associated with landed gentry and influential families of the time.

One notable figure with the surname NALAN was Krishnan Nalan (1879-1948), a prominent lawyer and political activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

Another individual of historical importance was Indira Nalan (1917-1999), a renowned classical dancer and choreographer. She is credited with reviving and popularizing the Bharatanatyam dance form in the 20th century.

In the field of literature, Sundara Nalan (1928-2005) was a celebrated Tamil writer and poet. He received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, for his contributions to Tamil literature.

Vijay Nalan (1932-2011) was a distinguished scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of India's space program. He played a key role in the design and launch of several satellites and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Lastly, Ravi Nalan (born 1965) is a prominent businessman and philanthropist. He founded a successful technology company and has been recognized for his charitable initiatives in the areas of education and healthcare.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nalan

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

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

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

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