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

Seelam, 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 Seelam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seelam in America

Seelam is the 89753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seelam surname appeared 206 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 Seelam.

The history of the last name Seelam

The surname Seelam is believed to have originated in India. It is thought to be a variation of the Sanskrit word "Shalma," which means "Soldier" or "Warrior." The name likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames were becoming more common in Indian society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Seelam can be found in the Marathi language records from the 16th century. These ancient texts mention a soldier named Seelam Bhonsle, who served in the army of the Maratha Empire. Seelam Bhonsle was born in 1532 and died in 1597.

The name Seelam is also linked to the town of Seelam, located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is possible that the surname was derived from this place name, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 18th century, a prominent individual named Seelam Raghunath Rao held a significant position in the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Seelam Raghunath Rao was born in 1712 and served as a trusted advisor to the Nizam until his death in 1785.

Another notable figure with the surname Seelam was Seelam Venkataramiah, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 19th century. Seelam Venkataramiah was born in 1820 and made significant contributions to Telugu literature before his death in 1892.

During the British colonial era in India, the name Seelam also appeared in various administrative records. One such record mentions a landowner named Seelam Venkata Reddy, who owned substantial property in the region of Rayalaseema in the early 20th century. Seelam Venkata Reddy was born in 1878 and died in 1942.

Throughout history, the surname Seelam has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, scholars, poets, and landowners. While the name has its roots in India, it is possible that it may have spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seelam

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

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

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

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