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

Bana, 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 Bana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bana in America

Bana is the 55841st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bana surname appeared 367 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 Bana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bana 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 Bana

The surname BANA is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is thought to have first emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name BANA is derived from the Sanskrit word "bana," which means "arrow" or "dart." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who were skilled archers or warriors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BANA can be found in the Bana Bhatta, an ancient Sanskrit text composed by the poet and scholar Bana, who lived in the 7th century CE. In this work, the author recounts the exploits of King Harsha of Thanesar, providing valuable insights into the cultural and historical context of the time.

The BANA surname has also been linked to various place names in India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. For example, the village of Banaras, now known as Varanasi, is believed to have been named after a ruler or notable figure with the surname BANA.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname BANA. One such figure is Bana Singh (1949-2022), an Indian Army officer who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor, for his exceptional bravery during the 1987 Siachen Glacier conflict with Pakistan.

Another prominent BANA was Bhagwati Charan Bana (1875-1923), a renowned Indian writer and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of Hindi literature. His works, including "Bhakti Sudha" and "Nirjhar," explored themes of spirituality and devotion.

In the field of music, Pandit Brij Bhushan Bana (1921-1996) was a celebrated Indian classical vocalist and composer. He was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to the arts.

The BANA surname can also be found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and diaspora communities. For instance, Dr. Anita Bana (1967-), an American physician and academic, is of Indian descent and has made significant contributions to the field of medical education.

While the origins of the BANA surname can be traced back to ancient India, its legacy has endured across generations and continents, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bana

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

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

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

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