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

Bandara, 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 Bandara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bandara in America

Bandara is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bandara surname appeared 119 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 Bandara.

The history of the last name Bandara

The surname BANDARA is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka, where it can be traced back to at least the 16th century. It is derived from the Sinhalese word "bandara," which means "chief" or "leader." In ancient times, the name was often used as a title for high-ranking officials or members of the nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BANDARA appears in the Culavamsa, a historical chronicle written in Pali language that covers the history of Sri Lanka from the 4th to the 18th century. The text mentions several individuals with the title "Bandara," indicating that the name was well-established in the island nation during that period.

In the 17th century, the BANDARA surname gained prominence in Sri Lanka during the reign of the Kandyan Kingdom, the last remaining independent monarchy on the island. Several members of the royal family and nobility held the name, including King Vimaladharmasuriya II (1687-1707), who was also known as Vimaladharmasuriya Bandara.

Another notable figure with the BANDARA surname was Kumarasinghe Bandara (1582-1635), a Sinhalese nobleman who led a rebellion against the Portuguese colonial rule in Sri Lanka. His uprising, known as the Uva Rebellion, was one of the most significant uprisings against foreign occupation in the island's history.

In the 19th century, the BANDARA surname gained recognition beyond Sri Lanka when Sir Solomon Dias Bandara Jayatilaka (1868-1944), a prominent Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) politician and diplomat, served as the country's first non-white governor. He played a crucial role in the struggle for independence and was knighted by the British Empire in 1924.

Another notable figure with the BANDARA surname was Don Philip Bandara Hendrikz (1863-1942), a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) lawyer and judge who served as the first Ceylonese Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was widely respected for his legal acumen and commitment to justice.

While the BANDARA surname is primarily associated with Sri Lanka, it has also been adopted by individuals of Sri Lankan descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Sri Lankan diaspora communities, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bandara

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

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

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

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