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

Parekh, 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 Parekh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parekh in America

Parekh is the 9770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parekh surname appeared 3,316 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Parekh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parekh 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 Parekh

The surname Parekh is of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Gujarat. It is thought to have originated in the medieval period, between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Parikrama," which means "circumambulation" or "going around." It is believed to have been a title or occupation for those who performed rituals or worked in temples.

In ancient Hindu scriptures, there are references to individuals with the title "Parikramakar," which may have later evolved into the surname Parekh. The name is predominantly found among the Gujarati Brahmin community, who were traditionally involved in religious and scholarly pursuits.

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Parekh can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries in Gujarat. One notable example is the "Rajput Prakash," a historical text written in the 17th century, which mentions individuals with the surname Parekh.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Parekh have made significant contributions in various fields. One such person was Vinayak Narhari Parekh (1908-1983), a renowned Indian jurist and former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Another notable figure was Chunilal Parekh (1896-1976), a prominent Indian industrialist and co-founder of the Saurashtra Cement and Chemical Industries Limited.

In the realm of literature, Rasiklal Chhotalal Parekh (1876-1945) was a celebrated Gujarati poet and writer, known for his contributions to the Gujarati literary tradition. Govardhanram Tripathi Parekh (1905-1987) was a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and author, renowned for his translations of ancient Hindu texts.

Lastly, Raman Parekh (1925-1994) was a prominent Indian architect and urban planner, recognized for his work in designing and planning cities, including the development of the city of Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Parekh who have left their mark in various fields throughout history, showcasing the rich heritage and contributions associated with this ancient Indian surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parekh

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

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

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

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