2010
#30,165
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 777
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.26
Rare Last name
Pokhrel
A surname referring to people residing in the hills or Pokhara region of Nepal.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,119 Americans carry the last name Pokhrel. That puts it at #15,291 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 161,753 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pokhrel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 161,753
Census rank
#15,291
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,848 bearers of the surname Pokhrel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15291st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pokhrel, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.4%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pokhrel
The surname Pokhrel has its origins in Nepal, with evidence dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Nepali language, potentially stemming from the word "Pokhar," which means "pond" or "lake." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals residing near bodies of water or in areas known for their ponds or lakes.
Historical records indicate that the Pokhrel surname was prevalent among certain communities in the Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding regions. However, it is important to note that due to the limited documentation and record-keeping practices of the time, the earliest written accounts mentioning the name are relatively scarce.
One of the earliest documented references to the Pokhrel surname can be found in the Dhanapati Lekhamalas, a collection of ancient manuscripts dating back to the late 16th century. These manuscripts contain records of land ownership and legal disputes, where individuals bearing the Pokhrel surname are mentioned as parties involved.
In the 17th century, the Pokhrel name gained prominence among the Newar community, an indigenous ethnic group in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. During this period, several notable individuals with the Pokhrel surname emerged, including Chandra Pokhrel, a renowned scholar and poet who was born in 1631 and is celebrated for his contributions to Nepali literature.
Another significant figure from this era was Jaya Pokhrel, a military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in defending the Kathmandu Valley against invasions during the late 17th century. Jaya Pokhrel's tactical prowess and leadership were instrumental in shaping the course of several battles and securing the region's sovereignty.
As time progressed, the Pokhrel surname spread beyond the Kathmandu Valley, and individuals bearing this name could be found in various parts of Nepal. In the 19th century, Kashi Pokhrel, a notable scholar and educator, established one of the earliest modern schools in Nepal, contributing significantly to the country's education system.
Towards the latter half of the 19th century, Hari Pokhrel gained recognition as a skilled artisan and craftsman, renowned for his intricate wood carvings and architectural designs. His works adorned many temples and structures across Nepal, leaving a lasting legacy in the country's cultural heritage.
It is worth mentioning that while the Pokhrel surname has deep roots in Nepal, it has also been found in other regions, possibly due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical origins and earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Nepali context.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pokhrel
Among Census respondents with the surname Pokhrel, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.4%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Pokhrel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pokhrel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander97.4% · 1,800
- White1.4% · 25
- Two or more races0.9% · 16
- Hispanic or Latino0.3% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Pokhrel
Pokhrel appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#15,291
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,848
+1,071 bearers (+137.8%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Up 14,874 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #30,165 | 777 | 0.26 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #15,291 | 1,848 | 0.62 | +1,071 bearers (+137.8%) | Up 14,874 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Pokhrel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,165 | #15,291 | 49.3% |
| Count | 777 | 1,848 | 137.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.62 | 137.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Pokhrel bearers went from 777 to 1,848 (+137.8% change). The surname moved up 14,874 positions in the national ranking, going from #30,165 to #15,291.
FAQ
Pokhrel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Pokhrel?
Name Census estimates that about 2,119 living Americans carry the surname Pokhrel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 161,753 residents.
How common is Pokhrel?
Pokhrel ranks #15,291 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,848 people with the surname Pokhrel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Pokhrel.
Has Pokhrel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Pokhrel went from 777 recorded bearers to 1,848. That is an increase of 1,071 (+137.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #30,165 to #15,291.
What does the Census say about the background of Pokhrel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pokhrel, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.4%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Pokhrel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.4% (1,800 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Pokhrel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (97.4%), White (1.4%), Two or More Races (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Pokhrel (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Pokhrel mean?
A surname referring to people residing in the hills or Pokhara region of Nepal. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Pokhrel (0.62 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Pokhrel?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Pokhrel on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.