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

Bandura, 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 Bandura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bandura in America

Bandura is the 49723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bandura surname appeared 422 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 Bandura.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bandura 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 Bandura

The surname Bandura is of Ukrainian origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Ukrainian word "bandura," which refers to a traditional stringed musical instrument resembling a lute or a kobza. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who played or crafted these instruments.

The earliest known records of the surname Bandura can be found in historical documents from the Cossack Hetmanate, a semi-autonomous Cossack nation that existed in the 16th to 18th centuries within the territories of modern-day Ukraine. The name appears in various chronicles and records from that era, indicating its presence among the Cossack population.

One notable figure bearing the surname Bandura was Hryhoriy Bandura, a Cossack military leader and diplomat who lived in the late 17th century. He played a significant role in the negotiations between the Cossack Hetmanate and the Russian Empire, leading to the eventual integration of the Hetmanate into the Russian state.

Another historical figure with the surname Bandura was Opanas Bandura, a renowned Ukrainian kobzar (a traditional Ukrainian bard and musician) who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known for his mastery of the bandura instrument and his contribution to preserving and promoting Ukrainian folk music and oral traditions.

In the 19th century, the name Bandura appeared in various Ukrainian literary works and publications, reflecting its enduring presence in the cultural landscape. One such example is the poem "Bandura" by the celebrated Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, which pays tribute to the instrument and its symbolic significance in Ukrainian culture.

As the name Bandura spread beyond its initial geographic origins, it was also found in other regions with significant Ukrainian populations, such as parts of modern-day Russia and Poland. The surname has been carried by numerous individuals over the centuries, including artists, musicians, and scholars, contributing to the rich tapestry of Ukrainian cultural heritage.

It is worth noting that the name Bandura has also been subject to variations in spelling and pronunciation over time, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the regions where it has been present. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the Ukrainian tradition and the enduring significance of the instrument that bears its name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bandura

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!