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

Pillari, 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 Pillari surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pillari in America

Pillari is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pillari surname appeared 143 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 Pillari.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pillari 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 Pillari

The surname Pillari is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the region of South India. It is thought to have derived from the Tamil word "Pillai" or "Pillai," which means "child" or "son." The name was likely adopted as a surname or a title during the medieval period, when it became common practice to use personal descriptors or occupational titles as surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pillari can be found in the ancient Tamil literature, particularly in the Sangam era (c. 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE). The name appears in various forms, such as "Pillai" or "Pillayar," suggesting its long-standing presence in the region.

During the reign of the Chola Empire (c. 9th to 13th century CE), which was a prominent Tamil dynasty in South India, the name Pillari gained prominence. Records from this period, including inscriptions and manuscripts, mention individuals bearing this surname, indicating their association with influential families or positions within the empire.

One notable figure with the surname Pillari was Arunachala Pillari, a renowned Tamil scholar and philosopher who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his contributions to the study of Advaita Vedanta philosophy and his works, such as "Anubhava Prakaśikā," which explored the concept of self-realization.

Another individual of historical significance was Nachiyar Pillari, a Tamil poet and dramatist who lived during the 17th century. He was renowned for his plays and poems that addressed social issues and celebrated the Tamil language and culture.

In the 18th century, the Pillari surname gained recognition through the work of Seshachala Pillari, a scholar and mathematician from South India. He authored several treatises on mathematics, astronomy, and astrology, contributing to the advancement of these fields.

The name Pillari also finds mentions in ancient place names and locations within South India. For instance, there is a town called Pillarikundram in the state of Tamil Nadu, which is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the Pillari surname who resided in the area.

Throughout history, the Pillari surname has been associated with various professions and social strata, from scholars and poets to influential families and leaders. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Tamil culture, where it served as a descriptor or a title before evolving into a hereditary surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pillari

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

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

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

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