Explore the Family Name Palaniappan
The meaning of Palaniappan
Indian (Tamil Nadu): from a personal name derived from Tamil pazhani ‘the fruit of knowledge and success’. This is one of the names used for Shiva’s younger son Muruga, who, according to legend, chose to stay in a forest so named. — 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 Palaniappan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Palaniappan showed a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 112,365 in terms of frequency but jumped to 54,055 by 2010, marking a change of 51.89%. The count of people with this surname increased as well, from 145 in 2000 to 382 in 2010, reflecting a 163.45% rise. The proportion of individuals with the Palaniappan surname per 100,000 people also saw growth, rising from 0.05 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #112,365 | #54,055 | 51.89% |
| Count | 145 | 382 | 163.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.13 | 160% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Palaniappan
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Palaniappan surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This demographic grew slightly from 95.86% in 2000 to 97.64% in 2010. There were no reported individuals with the Palaniappan surname identifying as being of two or more races, White, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identity either in 2000 or 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 95.86% | 97.64% | 1.86% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| White | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |