Lal Family History

Indian (northern states): from a personal name meaning ‘darling’ from Sanskrit lāla ‘cajoling’ (related to Sanskrit lālana ‘caressing’). In several modern Indian languages lāl is a term of endearment for a child; it is also an epithet of the god Krishna.

There is also a homonymous word lāl in Hindi from Persian meaning ‘ruby red’ which may have contributed to the popularity of this name. It occurs commonly as the final element of a compound personal name.

Examples of such compound names include Brajlal (Braj being the name of the place where the god Krishna is supposed to have lived as a child) and Motilal (Hindi motī ‘pearl’).