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

Vijayan, 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 Vijayan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vijayan in America

Vijayan is the 61745th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vijayan surname appeared 325 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 Vijayan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vijayan 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 Vijayan

The surname Vijayan originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the state of Kerala in southern India. It is believed to have emerged around the 8th or 9th century AD during the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "vijaya," which means "victory" or "conquest," and is often associated with the warrior or ruling class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vijayan can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and epics, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas. These texts mention individuals with the name Vijayan, who were often depicted as brave warriors or influential figures in society.

During the reign of the Chera Dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Kerala from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD, the name Vijayan gained prominence among the nobility and ruling class. Several inscriptions and copper plate grants from this period mention individuals bearing the surname Vijayan, indicating their social status and land ownership.

In the 14th century, a renowned literary work titled "Nalacharitham Attaprakaram" was composed by the eminent Malayalam poet and scholar, Unnayi Warrier. This work features a character named Vijayan, who is portrayed as a skilled warrior and an important figure in the story's narrative.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Vijayan was Ezhuthachan Vijayan Moossath, who lived in the 16th century and is widely regarded as the father of Malayalam literature. He is credited with translating the Hindu epic Ramayana into the Malayalam language, making it accessible to the masses.

Another notable figure with the surname Vijayan was Kumaran Asan (1873-1924), a renowned poet, philosopher, and social reformer from Kerala. He played a significant role in the renaissance of Malayalam literature and championed social causes, particularly the upliftment of the downtrodden.

In the field of arts and culture, M.T. Vasudevan Nair (1933-2023), a celebrated writer and filmmaker, carried the surname Vijayan. He was a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honor.

Kunjunni Vijayan (1930-2005) was a renowned cartoonist and illustrator from Kerala. He is widely regarded as the pioneer of modern cartooning in India and is best known for creating the popular comic strip "Jagadambika."

Lastly, K.G. Vijayan (1939-2005) was a prominent Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Kerala and represented India in Test matches during the 1960s and 1970s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vijayan

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

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

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

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