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

Thampi, 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 Thampi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thampi in America

Thampi is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thampi surname appeared 133 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 Thampi.

The history of the last name Thampi

The surname Thampi originated in the southern Indian state of Kerala, where it has a long history dating back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Malayalam word "thampuran," which means "lord" or "master." The Thampi surname was initially associated with members of the Nair community, a prominent caste in Kerala known for their military and administrative roles under the local rulers.

During the medieval period, the Thampi family held significant power and influence in various parts of Kerala. They were often employed as administrators, military commanders, and advisors to the ruling dynasties of the time. Historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries mention several individuals with the Thampi surname serving in prominent positions in the royal courts of the Kingdom of Cochin and the Kingdom of Travancore.

One of the earliest documented references to the Thampi name can be found in the Cochin Royal Records, which mention a high-ranking official named Thampi Thampuran Nair, who served as the Chief Minister (Valia Sarvadhikari) of the Kingdom of Cochin in the early 16th century. Another notable figure was Thampi Kunjan Nair, a military commander who played a crucial role in the defense of the Kingdom of Travancore against the Dutch East India Company in the late 17th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Thampi surname has been associated with various prominent individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Thampi Tharakan (1774-1844), a renowned scholar and poet who was instrumental in the revival of the Malayalam language and literature during the 19th century. Another notable figure was Thampi Karunakaran Nair (1885-1965), a pioneering social reformer and leader of the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, a prominent organization that worked towards the upliftment of the underprivileged communities in Kerala.

Other historical figures with the Thampi surname include Thampi Kunjan Nair (1850-1925), a prominent lawyer and legal scholar, Thampi Kuttan Nair (1861-1936), a renowned mathematician and astronomer, and Thampi Kunhunni Raja (1839-1904), a celebrated poet and playwright who made significant contributions to the Malayalam literary tradition.

While the Thampi surname was originally associated with the Nair community in Kerala, over time, it has spread to other communities and regions within India. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the cultural and sociopolitical landscape of Kerala, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of this southern Indian state.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thampi

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

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

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

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