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

Banka, 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 Banka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Banka in America

Banka is the 53667th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Banka surname appeared 385 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 Banka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Banka 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 Banka

The surname Banka is believed to have originated in India, with roots tracing back to the late medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "bankaa," which means "bent" or "crooked." This could potentially indicate that the name was initially given as a descriptive term for someone with a distinctive physical feature or occupation related to bending or shaping materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Banka can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions a village called "Bankagrama," which translates to "Village of the Bankas," suggesting the presence of a community with this surname in that region during the Mughal era.

In the 17th century, the Banka surname appears in several historical records from the state of Gujarat, particularly in documents related to trade and commerce. This could indicate that individuals with this name were involved in mercantile activities or held prominent positions in business or trade guilds during that time.

Moving forward, the name Banka gained prominence in the 19th century with the rise of the Bengali Renaissance. One notable figure was Govindachandra Banka, a Bengali writer and social reformer born in 1823. He was a pioneering advocate for women's education and played a significant role in the establishment of the Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya, one of the earliest schools for girls in Bengal.

Another prominent individual with the surname Banka was Radhakrishna Banka, a renowned Indian painter and sculptor born in 1875. His works, which often depicted scenes from Hindu mythology and rural life, were widely acclaimed and are housed in several prestigious museums and galleries across India.

In the 20th century, the Banka surname gained further recognition with individuals like Dwijendralal Banka, a Bengali poet and novelist born in 1910. His literary works, which explored themes of social justice and human struggles, earned him critical acclaim and several prestigious awards, including the Ananda Purashkar.

It's worth noting that variations of the name, such as Bankar and Bankay, can also be found in historical records, possibly indicating regional variations or alternative spellings over time.

While the surname Banka may not be as widely recognized as some other Indian surnames, its roots can be traced back to ancient times, and individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions across various fields, including literature, art, and social reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Banka

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

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

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

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