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

Swaminathan, 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 Swaminathan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swaminathan in America

Swaminathan is the 24572nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swaminathan surname appeared 1,017 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 Swaminathan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swaminathan 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 Swaminathan

The surname Swaminathan is of Indian origin, tracing its roots back to the Tamil language and culture of southern India. It can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier.

The name Swaminathan is derived from the Sanskrit words "Swami" meaning lord or master, and "Nath" meaning protector or guardian. Together, the name translates to "Lord's protector" or "Master's guardian". It was likely originally used as a title or honorific for Hindu religious leaders or scholars.

Historical records indicate that the name Swaminathan appeared in various ancient Tamil literary works and inscriptions from the medieval Chola and Vijayanagar empires that ruled parts of southern India. Some early spellings included Swaminathar, Swaminatha, and Swaminatha Ayyar.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Swaminathan was the 16th century Tamil scholar and poet, Swaminatha Desika (1468-1563), who made significant contributions to the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Another notable figure was the 17th century Tamil philosopher and spiritual leader, Swaminatha Ayyar (1627-1687).

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Swaminathan became more widespread among the Tamil Brahmin community in regions like Thanjavur, Madurai, and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. Some notable individuals from this period include the 18th century Tamil scholar and playwright, Swaminatha Desika Ayyar (1710-1785), and the 19th century Tamil scholar and reformer, Swaminatha Iyer (1836-1912).

In more recent history, the name Swaminathan has been associated with several prominent individuals in various fields. These include the Indian agricultural scientist and former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (born 1925), who played a crucial role in India's Green Revolution. Another notable figure is the Indian classical musician and Carnatic vocalist, M.L. Swaminathan (1920-2004).

While the surname Swaminathan is primarily found among Tamil Brahmins in southern India, it has also spread to other parts of the country and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. Overall, the name Swaminathan carries a rich cultural heritage and historical significance, reflecting its deep roots in the Tamil and Hindu traditions of ancient India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swaminathan

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

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

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

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