Tambi last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tambi

An Indonesian surname indicating a bamboo craftsperson or worker.

Tambi, 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 Tambi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tambi in America

Tambi is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tambi surname appeared 103 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 Tambi.

The history of the last name Tambi

The surname Tambi is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern regions of India. It is thought to be derived from the ancient Tamil word "Tambi," which means "younger brother" or "little brother." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a term of endearment within families.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tambi can be traced back to the 12th century CE. It appears in several ancient manuscripts and records from the Chola dynasty, one of the most powerful empires in southern India during that period. The name is mentioned in inscriptions on temple walls and in royal decrees, indicating its presence among the nobility and ruling classes of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Tambi was Aditya Tambi, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 13th century CE. He was celebrated for his contributions to Tamil literature and his works on philosophy and spirituality. Another notable figure was Anirudha Tambi, a prominent military commander who served under the Vijayanagar Empire in the 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Tambi began to spread beyond its place of origin as people migrated to different parts of the subcontinent and beyond. This led to variations in spelling and pronunciations, such as Tambe, Thambi, and Thambiah, which were influenced by regional dialects and languages.

One of the most well-known individuals with this surname was Ananda Tambi, a revered spiritual leader and social reformer who lived in the 18th century. He advocated for the rights of the marginalized and worked tirelessly to promote education and uplift the underprivileged communities in southern India.

Another notable figure was Govinda Tambi, a skilled architect and sculptor who lived in the 19th century. He was responsible for designing and constructing several magnificent temples and palaces that are now considered architectural masterpieces and cultural treasures.

In the 20th century, Sarojini Tambi was a prominent writer and activist who fought for women's rights and participated in the Indian independence movement. She published several works of fiction and non-fiction that shed light on the struggles and aspirations of women in India.

The surname Tambi has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations in southern India, such as Tambi Nagar, Tambi Patti, and Tambi Kulam, further solidifying its connection to the region's cultural and historical heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tambi

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

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 Tambi was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 20.39% 21
Non-Hispanic Black Only 52.43% 54
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 27.18% 28
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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

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

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"Tambi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/tambi-surname-popularity/.

"Tambi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/tambi-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 July, 2025

Tambi last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/tambi-surname-popularity/.

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