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

Popat, 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 Popat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Popat in America

Popat is the 67943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Popat surname appeared 290 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 Popat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Popat 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 Popat

The surname POPAT is of Indian origin, specifically from the Gujarat region of western India. It is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century. The name is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "poppat," which means "a kind of sweet cake." This suggests that the name may have been originally an occupational surname for someone who made or sold these sweet treats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the POPAT surname dates back to the late 17th century in a village record from the Surat district of Gujarat. A merchant named Govind POPAT was listed as a resident of the village in 1685. The name also appears in a few 18th-century trade documents from the East India Company, which had a strong presence in Gujarat during that time.

In the 19th century, the name POPAT can be found in various historical records from the Bombay Presidency (now part of the modern-day states of Maharashtra and Gujarat). A notable figure was Magan POPAT, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from the city of Surat, who lived from 1810 to 1887. He is remembered for his contributions to education and public works in the region.

Another prominent individual bearing the POPAT surname was Govind POPAT, a social reformer and educator who lived from 1845 to 1910. He was a vocal advocate for women's education and the abolition of practices like child marriage and the caste system. Govind POPAT founded several schools and educational institutions in Gujarat during his lifetime.

In the early 20th century, Chamanlal POPAT was a successful businessman and industrialist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He established the Chamanlal POPAT Mills, a textile manufacturing company that played a significant role in the region's industrial development.

Another notable figure from the 20th century was Narottam POPAT, a celebrated writer and poet from Gujarat. Born in 1923, he is known for his contributions to Gujarati literature, particularly in the genres of poetry, short stories, and essays. Narottam POPAT's works often explored themes of social justice, human emotions, and the beauty of nature.

While the POPAT surname has its roots in Gujarat, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the western Indian state, where it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Popat

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

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

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

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