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

Baniya, 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 Baniya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baniya in America

Baniya is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baniya surname appeared 117 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 Baniya.

The history of the last name Baniya

The surname "BANIYA" originated in India and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vanijya," which means "trade" or "commerce." The name is associated with the Baniya community, a group of merchants and traders who played a significant role in the economic life of the Indian subcontinent.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents and manuscripts from the medieval period. In the 16th century, the Baniya community was mentioned in the writings of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who recognized their importance in the trade and commerce of his empire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Baniya was Shantidas Baniya, a prominent merchant and philanthropist from the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, who lived in the 17th century. He is credited with establishing several educational institutions and charitable organizations in the region.

Another notable figure was Lakshmidas Baniya, a wealthy trader from the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his contribution to the development of the city's textile industry and his philanthropic activities.

In the 19th century, the Baniya community played a significant role in the economic development of British India. One of the most famous members of the community was Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, who was born in 1839 and passed away in 1904. He is widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Industry" and played a crucial role in establishing modern industry in India.

Another prominent figure with the surname Baniya was Dwarkanath Baniya, a successful businessman and philanthropist from Kolkata, who lived from 1822 to 1895. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian National Congress, one of the leading political parties in India, and was a strong advocate for Indian independence.

The surname Baniya has also been associated with several place names in India. For example, the town of Baniya in the state of Uttar Pradesh was named after the Baniya community, who were among the earliest settlers in the region.

While the surname Baniya is primarily found in India, it has also been adopted by individuals of Indian descent living in various parts of the world, including countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baniya

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

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

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

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