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

Palu, 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 Palu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palu in America

Palu is the 51176th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palu surname appeared 407 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 Palu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palu 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 Palu

The surname PALU has its origins in India, specifically in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is derived from the Tamil word "palu," which means "milk" or "buttermilk." The name likely originated during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 9th or 10th century CE.

In ancient Tamil society, surnames were often associated with occupations, castes, or regions. The PALU surname may have been initially adopted by individuals involved in the dairy industry, such as milk sellers or producers of dairy products. Alternatively, it could have been a regional name associated with areas known for their dairy production or cattle rearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PALU surname can be found in the Chola inscriptions, which date back to the 9th and 10th centuries CE. These inscriptions were stone engravings commissioned by the Chola dynasty, which ruled over large parts of southern India during that period.

A notable figure bearing the PALU surname was Palu Adigal, a revered Tamil scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century CE. He was known for his contributions to the Tamil literary tradition and his commentaries on ancient Tamil texts.

Another individual of historical significance was Palu Dhandapani Pillai, a prominent scholar and poet who lived during the 17th century CE. He was a prolific writer and is credited with authoring several works on Tamil grammar, literature, and philosophy.

In the 18th century, Palu Subramanya Iyer was a renowned astrologer and astronomer. He served as the court astrologer for the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom and made significant contributions to the field of astrology and astronomical calculations.

During the colonial period, Palu Veeraswami Naicker was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement. He was a lawyer and politician who played a crucial role in the advocacy of self-rule and the rights of the Tamil community in the early 20th century.

Another noteworthy individual was Palu Padmanabhan, a celebrated artist and sculptor who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his intricate bronze sculptures and his contributions to the revival of traditional Tamil art forms.

While the PALU surname originated in Tamil Nadu, it has since spread to other parts of India and across the globe due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Tamil region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palu

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

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

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

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