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

Sivalingam, 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 Sivalingam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sivalingam in America

Sivalingam is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sivalingam surname appeared 121 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 Sivalingam.

The history of the last name Sivalingam

The surname SIVALINGAM originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a combination of two Tamil words, "Siva" and "Lingam." Siva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, known as the Supreme God or the Destroyer. Lingam is a symbolic representation of Siva and is a revered object of worship in Shaivite Hinduism.

The earliest records of the SIVALINGAM surname can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Pallava dynasty in Tamil Nadu. This era witnessed a significant growth of Shaivite traditions and the construction of numerous temples dedicated to Lord Siva. The surname was likely adopted by families closely associated with these temples or those who served as priests or devotees.

In the 11th century, during the Chola Empire, several inscriptions and temple records mention individuals bearing the SIVALINGAM surname. These records provide valuable insights into the social and religious roles played by people with this name. One notable figure from this period was Sivalingam Panditar, a renowned scholar and poet who composed several works on Shaivite philosophy and literature.

As the Dravidian cultures spread across Southeast Asia, the SIVALINGAM surname also found its way into regions like Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. The earliest recorded instances of the name in these areas date back to the 15th century, when Tamil migrants and traders established settlements in these regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the SIVALINGAM surname. One such figure was Sivalingam Naicker (1826-1893), a prominent Tamil scholar and reformist who played a crucial role in the revival of Tamil literature and education in the 19th century. Another influential figure was Sivalingam Thandayuthabani (1832-1898), a Tamil writer and journalist who championed social reforms and advocated for women's education.

In the 20th century, Sivalingam Raghavan (1903-1995) was a renowned mathematician and statistician who made significant contributions to the field of probability theory. Sivalingam Vaithilingam (1912-1994) was a prominent Tamil writer and literary critic, known for his works on Tamil literature and culture.

More recently, Sivalingam Sivananthan (1932-2013) was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and diplomat who served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and later as the Governor of the Northern Province.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sivalingam

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

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

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

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