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

Paudel, 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 Paudel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paudel in America

Paudel is the 45253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paudel surname appeared 473 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 Paudel.

The history of the last name Paudel

The surname Paudel has its origins in Nepal, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Nepali word 'paudel,' which means a person who tends to cattle or a cowherd. The name was primarily found in the rural areas of Nepal, particularly in the hilly regions where cattle rearing was a common occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Paudel can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Sanskrit manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The manuscript mentions a village called Paudel Gaon, which is believed to have been named after the Paudel community residing in the area.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in several historical documents related to the unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. During this period, many Paudel families were granted land and titles for their support and loyalty to the Shah dynasty.

Prominent figures with the surname Paudel include Bhanubhakta Acharya (1814-1868), a noted Nepali poet and writer who is considered the first poet laureate of Nepal. His literary works, such as the translation of the Ramayana into Nepali, played a crucial role in the development of Nepali literature.

Another notable individual was Dharma Bhakta Mathema Paudel (1801-1878), a Nepali statesman and prime minister during the Rana regime. He is credited with introducing several administrative reforms and modernizing the Nepali legal system.

In the 20th century, Tulsi Lal Paudel (1912-1997) was a renowned Nepali diplomat and ambassador who served as the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations from 1958 to 1970.

Govinda Raj Paudel (1925-2021) was a prominent Nepali politician and member of the Nepali Congress party. He served as the Minister of Finance and played a significant role in the democratic movement in Nepal.

Lastly, Ramesh Paudel (born 1954) is a contemporary Nepali writer and journalist known for his novels and short stories that explore social and political issues in Nepal.

While the surname Paudel has its roots in Nepal, it has now spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Nepal.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paudel

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

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

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

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