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

Pillai, 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 Pillai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pillai in America

Pillai is the 15163rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pillai surname appeared 1,944 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 Pillai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pillai 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 Pillai

The surname PILLAI is of Tamil origin, originating in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Sri Lanka. The name can be traced back to ancient Tamil dynasties and kingdoms dating as far back as the 6th century BCE.

PILLAI is derived from the Tamil word "Pulavar," which translates to "scholar" or "erudite person." It was initially used as a title or honorific for learned scholars, poets, and intellectuals in the Tamil community. Over time, the title became hereditary and evolved into a surname.

In ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions, the name PILLAI is mentioned in various contexts, referring to revered scholars and poets. One notable example is the Tamil epic "Silappadikaram," which mentions a character named Madurai Pillai, a renowned scholar and grammarian from the city of Madurai.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname PILLAI can be found in the Vatteluttu inscriptions, a form of ancient Tamil script, dating back to the 6th century CE. These inscriptions were found in various parts of Tamil Nadu and mention individuals with the PILLAI surname.

Several prominent figures in Tamil history bore the surname PILLAI. One such individual was Thiruvalluvar Pillai, a legendary Tamil poet and philosopher who lived around the 6th century CE. He is best known for his literary work, "Thirukkural," a collection of couplets on ethics, love, and moral philosophy.

Another notable figure was Avvaiyar Pillai, a revered Tamil poet and spiritual leader who lived in the 9th century CE. She is credited with composing numerous works on ethics, philosophy, and Tamil grammar, and her literary contributions are highly acclaimed in Tamil culture.

In the 12th century CE, Sekkilar Pillai was a prominent Tamil scholar and author who wrote the "Periya Puranam," a hagiographical work on the 63 Nayanars (Tamil Shaivite saints). His work is considered a significant contribution to Tamil literature and Shaivite philosophy.

During the Chola Empire (9th to 13th century CE), the PILLAI surname was associated with numerous scholars, poets, and administrators who played crucial roles in the court and cultural life of the empire. One such individual was Sembiyan Pillai, a renowned minister and scholar during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I.

In the 16th century, Thiru V. K. Pillai, also known as Thiruvalluvar Pillai, was a celebrated Tamil scholar and poet who wrote several literary works, including commentaries on the Thirukkural.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname PILLAI, highlighting its long-standing association with scholarship, literature, and intellectual pursuits within the Tamil community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pillai

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

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

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

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