Find out how popular the last name Ananda is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ananda.

Ananda, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ananda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ananda in America

Ananda is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ananda surname appeared 154 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ananda.

The history of the last name Ananda

The surname Ananda is of Indian origin, deriving from the Sanskrit word 'ānanda' meaning 'bliss' or 'joy'. It is believed to have originated as a personal name in ancient India, likely during the Vedic period or earlier.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ananda can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Buddhist Pali Canon. One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name was Ananda, a cousin and close disciple of Gautama Buddha, who lived in the 5th century BCE.

In the centuries that followed, the name Ananda continued to be used as a personal name among Hindus and Buddhists in various regions of the Indian subcontinent. It eventually evolved into a surname, particularly among certain communities in southern India.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Ananda was the 9th century Hindu philosopher and logician, Anandabodha Bhattarakacharya, who hailed from the region of present-day Karnataka. Another notable figure was the 16th century Bengali poet and writer, Anandadhara, who composed works in praise of the goddess Kali.

In the 17th century, the name Ananda appears in the records of the Vijayanagar Empire, particularly in connection with the Nayaka rulers of Madurai. The Nayaka king, Thirumalai Nayak, had a courtier and minister named Ananda Ranga Pillai, who is credited with constructing the renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ananda include the 18th century Marathi saint and poet, Anandaghana, and the 19th century Bengali novelist and essayist, Anandamohan Basu.

Throughout its history, the surname Ananda has been associated with various regions of India, particularly in the southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bengal. It continues to be a widely used surname among Hindus and Buddhists, carrying the connotation of joy and spiritual bliss.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ananda

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ananda.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ananda was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ananda was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ananda, please contact us.

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