Explore the Family Name Gopal
The meaning of Gopal
Indian: from a name based on Sanskrit gopāla ‘cowherd’ (from go ‘cow’ + pāla ‘protector’), an epithet of the god Krishna. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Raj, Ram, Madan, Ganesh, Haresh, Indira, Kishore, Nanda, Rajeev, Ravi, Siva, Ajay.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gopal in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gopal has seen a significant rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 30,383rd most popular name, but by 2010 it had jumped to the 21,535th spot, reflecting a change of 29.12 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also increased from 726 in 2000 to 1,212 in 2010, marking an impressive 66.94 percent growth. Similarly, the proportion of people with the surname Gopal per 100,000 residents rose by 51.85 percent from 0.27 to 0.41.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,383 | #21,535 | 29.12% |
| Count | 726 | 1,212 | 66.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.41 | 51.85% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gopal
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Gopal identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. In fact, this group increased from 85.12 percent in 2000 to 88.61 percent in 2010, a change of 4.10 percent. The second largest group identified as two or more races, though its representation decreased by 45.40 percent from 7.71 percent in 2000 to 4.21 percent in 2010. The White demographic saw a slight increase from 3.72 percent to 4.04 percent, and the Black demographic nearly doubled from 0.96 percent to 1.73 percent. Meanwhile, the representation of the Hispanic ethnicity fell by 43.55 percent from 2.48 percent to 1.40 percent. There were no individuals who identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 85.12% | 88.61% | 4.1% |
| Two or More Races | 7.71% | 4.21% | -45.4% |
| White | 3.72% | 4.04% | 8.6% |
| Black | 0.96% | 1.73% | 80.21% |
| Hispanic | 2.48% | 1.4% | -43.55% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |