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

Arya, 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 Arya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arya in America

Arya is the 24961st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arya surname appeared 996 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 Arya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arya to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Arya

The surname Arya is believed to have originated in India, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'arya,' which means 'noble' or 'honorable.' The term 'arya' was initially used to refer to the Indo-Iranian people who spoke the Indo-Aryan languages.

The name Arya gained prominence in Hindu mythology, where it was associated with the concept of the 'noble path' or the 'path of righteousness.' The Aryans were believed to be the original inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent, and their cultural and religious traditions played a significant role in shaping the ancient Indian civilization.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Arya can be found in the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures composed between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE. The term 'arya' is frequently used in these texts to denote the virtuous and noble members of society.

During the Maurya Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in the Indian subcontinent from 322 BCE to 185 BCE, the name Arya was associated with the ruling class and the elite members of society. The famous Indian emperor Ashoka, who reigned from 268 BCE to 232 BCE, was known for his embrace of Buddhist principles and his promotion of the 'arya' values of non-violence and compassion.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Arya. One of the earliest recorded instances is Arya Bhatta, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 5th century CE. His contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy were significant, and he is credited with introducing the concept of zero and the decimal system.

Another prominent figure with the surname Arya was Arya Chanakya, a celebrated Indian philosopher, teacher, and strategist who lived in the 4th century BCE. He is best known for his influential work, the Arthashastra, which is a treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy.

In more recent times, the surname Arya has been associated with several influential personalities. Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement founded in the late 19th century by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, aimed to revive the 'arya' values and promote social reform.

Arya Antika, an Indian archaeologist and historian who lived in the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian history and played a pivotal role in the excavation and preservation of historical sites.

Lastly, Arya Stark is a fictional character from the popular book and television series "Game of Thrones," whose name pays homage to the ancient Indian concept of 'arya' and its association with nobility and righteousness.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arya

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

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 Arya 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Arya has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Arya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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