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

Thayil, 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 Thayil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thayil in America

Thayil is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thayil surname appeared 104 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 Thayil.

The history of the last name Thayil

The surname "THAYIL" has its origins in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is believed to have derived from the Malayalam word "thayi," which means "mother" or "mother's place." The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 14th century.

In ancient times, the Thayil surname was associated with the Nair community, a prominent Hindu caste in Kerala. Many families with this surname were landowners and played a significant role in the region's socio-economic fabric. The name's connection to the concept of "mother's place" suggests that it may have been used to identify families or individuals based on their ancestral matrilineal lineage.

One of the earliest known mentions of the Thayil surname can be found in the Kottayam Valiya Prabandham, a collection of literary works from the 14th century. This text references a prominent Nair family with the Thayil surname, indicating their influence and importance in the region during that time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Thayil surname. One such figure was Unnunili Nair Thayil (1675-1740), a renowned poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the Malayalam literary tradition. His works, including the epic poem "Nalacharitham Attakkatha," are celebrated for their poetic mastery and cultural significance.

Another prominent figure was Kozhikode Thayil Narayana Menon (1845-1919), a social reformer and writer who played a crucial role in advocating for the abolition of certain regressive practices within the Nair community. He was also instrumental in establishing educational institutions and promoting literacy in Kerala.

In the realm of performing arts, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma (1876-1961), a renowned Kathakali dancer and teacher, hailed from the Thayil family. She was widely regarded as a living legend and played a pivotal role in preserving and propagating the traditional art form of Kathakali.

The Thayil surname has also been associated with places and localities in Kerala. For instance, Thayil Kulangara is a village in the Ernakulam district, and Thayil Puthussery is a locality in the Kottayam district. These place names hint at the historical presence and influence of families bearing the Thayil surname in these regions.

It is worth noting that while the Thayil surname has its roots in Kerala, over time, it has spread to other parts of India and even abroad due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the southern Indian state, where it holds a rich cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thayil

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!