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

Nayer, 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 Nayer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nayer in America

Nayer is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nayer surname appeared 104 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 Nayer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nayer 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 Nayer

The surname NAYER is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of present-day Kerala, India. It dates back to the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "nayaka," which means "leader" or "chief," suggesting that it was initially used to denote individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their respective communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NAYER can be found in the ancient Kodungallur Copper Plates, a set of inscriptions from the 9th century AD, which document land grants made by the Chera rulers of Kerala. These inscriptions mention individuals with the title "Nayar," which is believed to be a variant of the name NAYER. It is likely that the name was initially associated with the Nair caste, a prominent community in Kerala known for their martial traditions and administrative roles.

During the medieval period, the NAYER surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. It is recorded in various historical documents and literary works of the time, such as the Sangam literature and the works of renowned Tamil poets like Kamban and Thiruvalluvar.

One notable historical figure with the surname NAYER was Unni Nayar, a 16th-century Malayalam poet and scholar from Kerala. He is renowned for his contributions to the development of the Malayalam language and literature, particularly his work "Unnichiruthazhikkal," a poetic narrative that explores themes of love and devotion.

Another prominent individual with the NAYER surname was Kunjali Marakkar IV (c. 1510-1600), a naval chief and warrior who led the Calicut naval forces against the Portuguese in the 16th century. He is celebrated for his valiant resistance against the colonial powers and is regarded as a symbol of patriotism and bravery in Kerala.

In the 18th century, Velu Thampi Dalawa (1765-1809) was a notable NAYER figure who served as the Dalawa (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Travancore (present-day Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu). He played a crucial role in the military and administrative affairs of the kingdom and is remembered for his efforts to modernize and strengthen the Travancore army.

The NAYER surname has also been associated with several place names in Kerala, such as Nayarambalam, Nayarkunnu, and Nayaranellur, further reinforcing its deep-rooted connection to the region.

While the NAYER surname has its origins in Kerala, it has since spread to other parts of India and across the globe, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or descended from the region over the centuries. However, its historical roots and significance remain deeply intertwined with the cultural and linguistic heritage of Kerala.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nayer

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

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

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

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