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

Behera, 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 Behera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behera in America

Behera is the 68345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behera surname appeared 288 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 Behera.

The history of the last name Behera

The surname BEHERA has its origins in India, specifically in the state of Odisha. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries.

The name BEHERA is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vaidya," which means a physician or a person skilled in the art of healing. In ancient India, the Vaidyas were highly respected members of society and played a crucial role in the practice of traditional medicine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BEHERA can be found in the Madala Panji, a historical chronicle of the Gajapati kings of Odisha. This document, dating back to the 16th century, mentions several individuals with the surname BEHERA, indicating that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Balaram Behera, born in 1620, gained recognition as a skilled physician and scholar. He authored several texts on traditional Indian medicine and was highly regarded for his contributions to the field.

Another prominent individual with the surname BEHERA was Gopal Chandra Behera, born in 1812. He was a renowned poet and writer who made significant contributions to the Odia literary tradition. His works, including the epic poem "Kalinga Kaumudi," have been widely acclaimed and studied.

In the 20th century, Jagannath Behera, born in 1901, was a distinguished freedom fighter who participated in India's struggle for independence from British rule. He was actively involved in the non-violent resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and spent several years in prison for his participation.

Upendra Behera, born in 1935, was a renowned artist and sculptor from Odisha. His works, which drew inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of the region, have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across India and internationally.

The name BEHERA has also been associated with various place names in Odisha. For instance, the village of Behera Sahi in the Bhubaneswar district was named after the Behera community residing there.

While the surname BEHERA originated in Odisha, it has since spread to other parts of India and even to other countries due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Vaidya tradition of Odisha, where it holds a significant historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behera

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

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

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

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