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

Sawal, 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 Sawal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sawal in America

Sawal is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sawal surname appeared 113 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 Sawal.

The history of the last name Sawal

The surname SAWAL is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "savala," which means "swarthy" or "dark-complexioned." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who had a darker skin tone, potentially reflecting their ancestry or geographic origins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAWAL surname can be found in the Mughal era records from the region that is now modern-day Pakistan and northern India. These records document the presence of individuals bearing the name SAWAL among the local population, indicating that the name had already established itself by that time.

In the 18th century, during the British colonial period, the SAWAL name appears in several administrative documents and census records from various parts of the Indian subcontinent. This suggests that the name had spread across the region and was being used by families from diverse backgrounds.

Notable individuals with the SAWAL surname include Haji Abdul Sawal (1870-1945), a prominent Muslim scholar and religious leader from the Punjab region of British India, who played a significant role in promoting education and social reform. Mir Amman Sawal (1901-1979), an acclaimed Urdu poet and literary figure, was also born into a family bearing the SAWAL surname.

Another person of note was Nawab Sawal Khan (1745-1810), a powerful landlord and chieftain from the Awadh region of northern India, who held significant influence during the latter part of the Mughal Empire. In more recent times, Shafqat Sawal (born 1961) has gained recognition as a Pakistani cricket umpire, officiating in numerous international matches.

While the SAWAL surname is predominantly found in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and northern India, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora communities. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sawal

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

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 Sawal 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.

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

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

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