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

Nanavaty, 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 Nanavaty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nanavaty in America

Nanavaty is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nanavaty surname appeared 105 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 Nanavaty.

The history of the last name Nanavaty

The surname Nanavaty originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the western state of Gujarat. It is a Gujarati surname that can be traced back to the 16th century or earlier. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Nana," which means small or minor, and the Gujarati word "vati," which means village or hamlet. Therefore, the name Nanavaty likely referred to someone who hailed from a small village or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nanavaty can be found in the Akbar Nama, a 16th-century historical work commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The work mentions a person named Nanavaty who served as a courtier in Akbar's court. Unfortunately, no specific dates or further details about this individual are provided.

In the 17th century, there are records of a Nanavaty family residing in the Surat region of Gujarat. Surat was a major port city and a hub of trade during the Mughal era, suggesting that the Nanavaty family may have been involved in mercantile activities.

During the 18th century, a notable figure named Motiram Nanavaty lived in the town of Dholka, located in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. Motiram Nanavaty was a prominent merchant and philanthropist who contributed to the construction of several temples and public works in the region.

In the 19th century, Narsinghdas Nanavaty, a Gujarati poet and playwright, gained recognition for his literary works. Born in 1830, Narsinghdas Nanavaty authored several plays and poems in the Gujarati language, including the popular play "Bhaktamal."

Another prominent figure from the 19th century was Govardhandas Nanavaty, a social reformer and educator. Born in 1855, Govardhandas Nanavaty played a significant role in promoting education and advocating for women's rights in Gujarat.

As the Nanavaty surname spread across Gujarat and other parts of India, it also found its way into various professions and fields. For instance, in the 20th century, Vrajlal Nanavaty was a notable architect who designed several landmark buildings in Ahmedabad, including the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust and the Shreyas School campus.

While the origins of the Nanavaty surname can be traced back to Gujarat, it is now found among various communities across India and even among the Indian diaspora around the world. However, the detailed history and specific individuals mentioned in this report are limited to the earlier centuries, as more recent census data and records may not accurately capture the full breadth of the name's evolution and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nanavaty

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

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

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

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