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

Sukumaran, 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 Sukumaran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sukumaran in America

Sukumaran is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sukumaran surname appeared 241 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 Sukumaran.

The history of the last name Sukumaran

The surname SUKUMARAN has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is a compound word derived from the Sanskrit words 'sukha' meaning happiness or pleasure, and 'maran' meaning death or dying. The name is believed to have originated during the medieval period, possibly between the 9th and 13th centuries CE.

The SUKUMARAN name was traditionally associated with certain communities and castes in Kerala, such as the Nair and Kshatriya communities. These communities played significant roles in the region's history, with many members serving as warriors, administrators, and landowners.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SUKUMARAN name can be found in the Kodungalloor Copper Plate, a historical document dating back to the 9th century CE. This document mentions a person with the name 'Sukumaran Nair', indicating the name's antiquity in Kerala.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the SUKUMARAN name appeared in various Malayalam literary works and historical records, such as the 'Unni Nair Charitam' and the 'Keralolpathi'. These works often depicted individuals with the SUKUMARAN surname as valiant warriors and influential figures in the region's political and cultural spheres.

Notable individuals with the SUKUMARAN surname throughout history include:

1. Sukumaran Nair (1865-1944), a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Kerala.
2. Sukumaran Nair (1887-1958), an acclaimed Malayalam writer and playwright, best known for his works like 'Dakshayagnam' and 'Kurupillachannu'.
3. Sukumaran Mani (1911-1997), a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, recognized as one of the pioneers of Kerala's Kathakali dance form.
4. Sukumaran Nair (1916-1981), an eminent Indian jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India from 1977 to 1979.
5. Sukumaran Thampi (1925-2007), a celebrated Malayalam actor and filmmaker, known for his contributions to the Malayalam film industry.

The SUKUMARAN surname has also been associated with various place names in Kerala, such as Sukumarapuram, Sukumarannur, and Sukumarapuram Desam, which further highlights the name's deep-rooted connection to the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sukumaran

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

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

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

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