Pillai Surname

The History of the Pillai Surname

The surname Pillai is a common South Indian surname that has a long and rich history. The Pillais were originally a group of scholars and landowners in the region, and they played a significant role in the social and cultural development of South India.

Origins of the Pillai Surname

The Pillai surname has its origins in the Tamil-speaking regions of South India, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Pillais were traditionally landowners and scholars, and they were highly respected in their communities.

Over time, the Pillais spread to other parts of South India, as well as to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Today, the surname Pillai is found in many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Notable Pillais

Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals with the surname Pillai. One such figure is Arumuka Navalar, a 19th-century Hindu scholar and religious reformer who played a key role in the revival of Hinduism in Sri Lanka.

Another famous Pillai is A. Vaidyanatha Iyer, a prominent Indian lawyer and politician who was a leading figure in the Indian independence movement. Iyer was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution.

Spread of the Pillai Surname

Today, the Pillai surname is found in many countries around the world, with the highest incidence in India, where it is most common in the state of Tamil Nadu. The surname is also prevalent in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.

In addition to South Asia, the Pillai surname is also found in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore. The surname has spread to these countries through migration and the diaspora communities from South India.

Popularity of the Pillai Surname

According to data from various countries, the Pillai surname is most common in India, with over 177,000 individuals bearing the surname. The surname is also prevalent in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.

In countries outside of South Asia, the Pillai surname has a smaller presence, with lower incidences. For example, in the United States, there are around 3,326 individuals with the Pillai surname, while in the United Kingdom, there are approximately 1,302 individuals with the surname.

Despite its lower prevalence in countries outside of South Asia, the Pillai surname is still recognized and respected by many individuals around the world. The surname represents a rich cultural and historical heritage that continues to be celebrated and honored by those who bear it.

Significance of the Pillai Surname

The Pillai surname holds great significance for those who bear it, as it represents a proud legacy of scholarship, landownership, and cultural heritage. The Pillais have made valuable contributions to various fields, including politics, law, and religion, and their impact continues to be felt today.

For many individuals with the Pillai surname, it serves as a reminder of their ancestors' achievements and the responsibilities they carry to uphold the family name. The surname is a source of pride and identity for those who bear it, and it is often passed down through generations as a symbol of continuity and tradition.

Overall, the Pillai surname is an important and enduring part of South Indian culture and history, and it continues to hold significance for those who proudly bear it around the world.

The surname Pillai in the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it is achievable to locate African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Exactly the same takes place in the case of Pillai, which as you are able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname which can be found in the majority of the countries of this globe. In the same manner you will find nations in which certainly the thickness of men and women with all the surname Pillai is higher than in other countries.

The map of this Pillai surname

View Pillai surname map

The likelihood of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Pillai in the world, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves on the map, for a tangible country, we could understand tangible amount of people using the surname Pillai, to have in this way the precise information of all the Pillai that one may presently find in that country. All this also assists us to understand not just in which the surname Pillai comes from, but also in excatly what way the folks that are initially an element of the family that bears the surname Pillai have moved and moved. Just as, you are able to see by which places they will have settled and grown up, which is why if Pillai is our surname, it appears interesting to which other nations associated with the globe it is possible that one of our ancestors once moved to.

Nations with additional Pillai on the planet

  1. India India (177570)
  2. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (15235)
  3. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (10893)
  4. Oman Oman (9681)
  5. Qatar Qatar (5794)
  6. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (4897)
  7. Kuwait Kuwait (4149)
  8. Malaysia Malaysia (3977)
  9. United States United States (3326)
  10. Bahrain Bahrain (2305)
  11. Singapore Singapore (1989)
  12. South Africa South Africa (1926)
  13. England England (1302)
  14. Kenya Kenya (1012)
  15. Italy Italy (696)
  16. Ghana Ghana (665)
  17. Australia Australia (574)
  18. Canada Canada (525)
  19. Bangladesh Bangladesh (361)
  20. Fiji Fiji (251)
  21. New Zealand New Zealand (176)
  22. Nigeria Nigeria (153)
  23. Hong Kong Hong Kong (131)
  24. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (109)
  25. Brunei Brunei (75)
  26. Japan Japan (59)
  27. Germany Germany (53)
  28. Iraq Iraq (52)
  29. Seychelles Seychelles (47)
  30. Netherlands Netherlands (38)
  31. Mauritius Mauritius (33)
  32. Scotland Scotland (29)
  33. Botswana Botswana (28)
  34. Egypt Egypt (25)
  35. France France (25)
  36. Switzerland Switzerland (25)
  37. Sweden Sweden (22)
  38. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (20)
  39. Thailand Thailand (19)
  40. Wales Wales (19)
  41. Indonesia Indonesia (17)
  42. Libya Libya (16)
  43. Maldives Maldives (16)
  44. China China (16)
  45. Finland Finland (15)
  46. Norway Norway (15)
  47. Afghanistan Afghanistan (13)
  48. Estonia Estonia (12)
  49. Uganda Uganda (10)
  50. Poland Poland (10)
  51. Denmark Denmark (9)
  52. Sudan Sudan (9)
  53. Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (9)
  54. Spain Spain (8)
  55. Tanzania Tanzania (6)
  56. Philippines Philippines (5)
  57. Russia Russia (4)
  58. Djibouti Djibouti (4)
  59. Angola Angola (4)
  60. Ethiopia Ethiopia (4)
  61. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone (4)
  62. Mongolia Mongolia (4)
  63. Malawi Malawi (4)
  64. Tunisia Tunisia (4)
  65. Mozambique Mozambique (4)
  66. Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo (4)
  67. Ireland Ireland (4)
  68. Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo (4)
  69. Zambia Zambia (4)
  70. Algeria Algeria (3)
  71. Brazil Brazil (3)
  72. Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (3)
  73. Iceland Iceland (3)
  74. Cambodia Cambodia (2)
  75. South Korea South Korea (2)
  76. Argentina Argentina (2)
  77. Ukraine Ukraine (2)
  78. Nepal Nepal (2)
  79. Romania Romania (1)
  80. Rwanda Rwanda (1)
  81. Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (1)
  82. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (1)
  83. Lesotho Lesotho (1)
  84. Lithuania Lithuania (1)
  85. Luxembourg Luxembourg (1)
  86. Slovakia Slovakia (1)
  87. American Samoa American Samoa (1)
  88. Madagascar Madagascar (1)
  89. Austria Austria (1)
  90. El Salvador El Salvador (1)
  91. Swaziland Swaziland (1)
  92. Micronesia Micronesia (1)
  93. Malta Malta (1)
  94. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (1)
  95. Chad Chad (1)
  96. Togo Togo (1)
  97. Belgium Belgium (1)
  98. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland (1)
  99. Mexico Mexico (1)
  100. Benin Benin (1)
  101. Bermuda Bermuda (1)
  102. Georgia Georgia (1)
  103. Taiwan Taiwan (1)
  104. Niger Niger (1)
  105. Bolivia Bolivia (1)
  106. Gibraltar Gibraltar (1)
  107. Honduras Honduras (1)
  108. Hungary Hungary (1)
  109. Yemen Yemen (1)
  110. Central African Republic Central African Republic (1)
  111. Pakistan Pakistan (1)
  112. Ivory Coast Ivory Coast (1)
  113. Chile Chile (1)
  114. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (1)
  115. Jordan Jordan (1)
  116. Portugal Portugal (1)
  117. Costa Rica Costa Rica (1)
  118. Cyprus Cyprus (1)