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

Raval, 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 Raval surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raval in America

Raval is the 18835th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raval surname appeared 1,453 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 Raval.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raval 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 Raval

The surname RAVAL is believed to have originated in India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'raval' which means 'a chief' or 'a ruler'. The name is thought to have first appeared in the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it was used to denote a person of high social status or authority.

In the medieval period, the name RAVAL was associated with the ruling classes and aristocracy of the Indian subcontinent. It is found in several historical records and manuscripts from that era, often indicating individuals who held positions of power or influence.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name RAVAL can be traced back to the 12th century, when a nobleman named Raval Khengar was a prominent figure in the court of the Chalukya dynasty in Gujarat. Another notable individual was Raval Harpaldev, a 13th-century ruler of the Jethwa clan in Saurashtra.

Over the centuries, the RAVAL name has spread across various parts of India and has been adopted by people from different communities and castes. Some prominent individuals with this surname include Vithaldas RAVAL, a renowned poet and scholar from Gujarat who lived in the 17th century, and Mahadev Govind RAVAL, a social reformer and educator from Maharashtra in the late 19th century.

In more recent times, the name RAVAL has been associated with several influential figures. For instance, Babubhai RAVAL was a prominent freedom fighter and social worker from Gujarat, who played an active role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century. Satyajit RAVAL, born in 1926, was a celebrated Indian filmmaker known for his critically acclaimed works that explored the complexities of human relationships.

Another notable individual with the RAVAL surname was Ghanshyam RAVAL, a renowned industrialist and philanthropist from Gujarat. He founded the Raval Group of Companies, one of the largest business conglomerates in India, and was also involved in various charitable and social welfare initiatives.

While the RAVAL name has its roots in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural associations of this surname remain deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent, reflecting its rich heritage and diverse cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raval

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

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

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

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