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

Selvaraj, 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 Selvaraj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selvaraj in America

Selvaraj is the 36048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selvaraj surname appeared 622 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 Selvaraj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Selvaraj 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 Selvaraj

The surname Selvaraj has its origins in the Tamil-speaking regions of southern India, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu. The name can be traced back to the 14th century or earlier, and it is derived from the Tamil words "selvam," meaning wealth or prosperity, and "raj," which denotes a ruler or king.

Historically, the name Selvaraj was likely associated with individuals of high social standing or those who held positions of authority within their communities. In ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions, references to the name Selvaraj or similar variations can be found, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Selvaraj can be found in the Thanjavur Inscriptions, a collection of stone carvings and copper plate inscriptions dating back to the 9th to 13th centuries AD. These inscriptions document the activities and achievements of various rulers and prominent figures from the region.

Notably, in the 17th century, a Tamil poet and scholar named Selvaraj Mudaliar (1593-1673) gained recognition for his contributions to Tamil literature. His works, including the epic poem "Selvarajar Varalaru," shed light on the cultural and historical significance of the name.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Selvaraj was Masilamani Selvaraj (1790-1865), a renowned Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Tamil Nadu. He played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement and advocated for the rights and education of marginalized communities.

In the realm of literature, Sundara Ramaswamy Selvaraj (1877-1948) was a celebrated Tamil writer and poet. His works, such as "Kuyil Pattu" and "Kanni Malayam," explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality, earning him widespread acclaim.

More recently, Murugesan Selvaraj (1927-2010), a prominent Indian politician and former member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, made significant contributions to the state's governance and development during his tenure.

It is worth noting that the surname Selvaraj has also been adopted by individuals from other regions of India, particularly in areas with cultural and linguistic ties to Tamil Nadu, further adding to its diversity and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selvaraj

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

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

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

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