Balkaran last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Balkaran

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit words "bal" (strength) and "karan" (cause or reason).

Balkaran, 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 Balkaran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balkaran in America

Balkaran is the 38754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balkaran surname appeared 570 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 Balkaran.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balkaran 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 38754 56246 -36.83%
Count 570 340 50.55%
Proportion per 100k 0.19 0.13 37.50%

The history of the last name Balkaran

The surname Balkaran has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, with the prefix "Bal" meaning strength or power, and "Karan" referring to the act of doing or making. Thus, the name Balkaran could be interpreted as "one who performs with strength or vigor."

The earliest known records of this surname can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts, often associated with individuals from the warrior castes or those engaged in physical labor. Interestingly, the name is also mentioned in some historical accounts of military campaigns and battles fought by Indian rulers and kingdoms against foreign invaders.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing this surname was Balkaran Singh, a renowned warrior and commander who lived during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. He played a crucial role in defending the empire's northern frontiers against the advancing armies of the Afghan rulers.

Another notable figure with this surname was Balkaran Dass, a revered scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. His literary works, primarily focusing on devotional themes and Hindu mythology, were widely acclaimed and have been preserved in various ancient libraries across India.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Balkaran Nath emerged as a respected spiritual leader and mystic. He is said to have established several ashrams and initiated numerous disciples into the path of self-realization and enlightenment.

Moving into the 19th century, Balkaran Rai was a renowned agriculturist and landowner who played a pivotal role in introducing modern farming techniques and improving crop yields in his region. His efforts were recognized and praised by the British colonial authorities at the time.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Balkaran Sharma gained recognition as a pioneering environmentalist and conservationist. He advocated for the protection of natural habitats and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable practices in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.

While the surname Balkaran has its origins in India, it has since been carried by individuals across the globe, particularly in regions with significant Indian diaspora populations. However, the historical roots and significance of this name remain deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balkaran

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

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 Balkaran was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 5.09% 29
Non-Hispanic Black Only 36.14% 206
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 45.44% 259
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.28% 13
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 8.77% 50
Hispanic Origin 2.28% 13

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 Balkaran has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 5.09% 3.24% 44.42%
Black 36.14% 17.35% 70.26%
Asian and Pacific Islander 45.44% 39.41% 14.21%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.28% 2.65% -15.01%
Two or More Races 8.77% 35.59% -120.92%
Hispanic 2.28% 1.76% 25.74%

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

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

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"Balkaran last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 29, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/balkaran-surname-popularity/.

"Balkaran last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/balkaran-surname-popularity/. Accessed 29 May, 2025

Balkaran last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/balkaran-surname-popularity/.

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