Explore the Family Name Arunachalam
The meaning of Arunachalam
Indian (mainly Tamil Nadu): from a personal name common in the Deccan Plateau, ultimately derived from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘hill of intense fire’, referring to the hill of Tiruvannamalai (revered by devotees of Shiva) in Tamil Nadu. Hindu mythology has it that the hill is a physical manifestation of the god Shiva, who appeared as a linga (pillar) of fire to intervene in a battle for supremacy between Lords Brahma and Vishnu. — Note: Since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Arunachalam in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Arunachalam has seen a significant increase in the United States over the past decade. In 2000, it was ranked 105,374 and by 2010 it had jumped to rank 48,160. This accounts for an impressive growth rate of 54.3 percent. Furthermore, the count of people with this surname expanded from 157 in 2000 to 439 people in 2010, showing an increase of nearly 180 percent. The proportion of people with this last name per 100k residents also grew from 0.06 to 0.15 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #105,374 | #48,160 | 54.3% |
| Count | 157 | 439 | 179.62% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.15 | 150% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Arunachalam
The ethnic identity associated with the Arunachalam surname is predominantly Asian/Pacific Islander, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, 95.54 percent of people with this last name identified as Asian or Pacific Islander and this percentage rose slightly to 96.36 percent by 2010. Interestingly, the census data also shows that some individuals with the Arunachalam last name started identifying as belonging to two or more races or as White in 2010, which wasn't the case in 2000. There were no individuals identified as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 95.54% | 96.36% | 0.86% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.82% | 0% |
| White | 0% | 1.82% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |