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

Velu, 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 Velu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Velu in America

Velu is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Velu surname appeared 126 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 Velu.

The history of the last name Velu

The surname Velu has its origins in South India, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu. It can be traced back to the 8th century AD. The name is derived from the Tamil word "vellu," which means "white" or "fair-skinned." It was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a fair complexion, which was considered a desirable trait in the region.

During the medieval period, the name Velu appeared in various inscriptions and manuscripts, particularly in the Chola and Pandya kingdoms of Tamil Nadu. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the 9th-century Vaikunta Perumal Temple inscriptions in Kanchipuram.

The name Velu has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Velu Nachiyar, a queen and freedom fighter who fought against the British East India Company in the late 18th century. She was a prominent leader in the resistance movement and played a crucial role in the Battle of Kalavanoor in 1780.

Another famous bearer of the name was Velu Thampi Dalawa, a Nair nobleman and diplomat who served as the Dalawa (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Travancore in the early 19th century. He was instrumental in modernizing the administrative and military systems of the kingdom.

In the literary world, Velu Nachiyar Pattukkam is an epic poem composed in the 18th century, which narrates the life and struggles of Queen Velu Nachiyar. It is considered an important work in Tamil literature and a source of inspiration for the freedom movement in Tamil Nadu.

Velu Sampath, born in 1926, was a renowned Tamil playwright and novelist known for his historical and mythological plays. His works, such as "Silapathikaram" and "Manimekalai," have significantly contributed to the Tamil literary canon.

Velu Anand, born in 1946, is a distinguished Indian mathematician and computer scientist. He has made significant contributions to the field of theoretical computer science, particularly in the areas of computational complexity theory and logic.

While the surname Velu has its roots in South India, it has spread to other parts of the country and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu, where it has a long and illustrious history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Velu

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

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

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

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