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

Poonawala, 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 Poonawala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poonawala in America

Poonawala is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poonawala surname appeared 169 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 Poonawala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poonawala 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 Poonawala

The surname "POONAWALA" is believed to have originated in India. It is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "pūrṇavāla," which means "the one who lives near a river bank." The name may have been initially used to identify individuals or families who resided along the banks of a river or a stream.

The earliest recorded mentions of the surname "POONAWALA" can be traced back to the medieval period in India, around the 12th or 13th century. During this time, many families adopted surnames based on their occupations, locations, or personal characteristics. The "POONAWALA" surname may have been used to denote a person's proximity to a body of water, possibly indicating their involvement in fishing, agriculture, or other water-related activities.

In the 16th century, records show that a prominent individual named Govind Poonawala served as a minister in the court of the Maratha Empire. He was known for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties between the Maratha rulers and other regional powers.

Another notable figure with the surname "POONAWALA" was Rambhau Poonawala, a 19th-century scholar and poet from Maharashtra. He wrote extensively on Hindu philosophy and made significant contributions to Marathi literature. His works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be studied by scholars today.

In the 20th century, Jyoti Poonawala, born in 1932, gained recognition as a prominent historian and academic. She specialized in the study of Islamic history and culture, and her research focused on the interactions between Arab and Indian societies. Jyoti Poonawala's contributions to academia were recognized with several awards and honors.

The surname "POONAWALA" has also been associated with successful businessmen and entrepreneurs. One notable figure was Rajesh Poonawala, a prominent industrialist from Mumbai, who founded a successful manufacturing company in the 1980s. His business endeavors played a significant role in the economic development of the region.

While the surname "POONAWALA" is more commonly found in India, particularly in the western and central regions, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has a rich history and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poonawala

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

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

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

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