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

Bhattacharya, 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 Bhattacharya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bhattacharya in America

Bhattacharya is the 17087th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bhattacharya surname appeared 1,661 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bhattacharya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bhattacharya 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 Bhattacharya

The surname Bhattacharya is of Indian origin, specifically from the Bengali region of the Indian subcontinent. It traces its roots back to the medieval period, around the 11th-13th centuries AD. Bhattacharya is derived from the Sanskrit words "Bhatta," meaning a learned person or a scholar, and "Acharya," meaning a teacher or a preceptor.

This surname was originally associated with learned individuals, particularly those who taught or studied the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. The Bhattacharyas were revered in Bengal for their scholarly pursuits and their role in preserving and disseminating knowledge through generations.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Bhattacharya surname can be found in the Pala inscriptions of Bengal, dating back to the 8th-12th centuries AD. These inscriptions mention individuals bearing the title "Bhattacharya," indicating their esteemed status as scholars and teachers.

Notable historical figures with the surname Bhattacharya include Krishnaram Bhattacharya (1710-1794), a prominent Bengali poet and playwright who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of Bengal. Another notable name is Brajendranath Bhattacharya (1824-1892), a renowned social reformer and educator who played a pivotal role in the Bengal Renaissance movement.

The illustrious mathematician and astronomer, Radhanath Bhattacharya (1537-1610), is credited with pioneering contributions to the field of mathematics and astronomy in India during the 16th century. His works, such as the Siddhanta Darpana, were highly influential in shaping the development of these disciplines.

Jyotirindranath Bhattacharya (1854-1930) was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and a dedicated social worker. He founded the Bhattacharya Academy, one of the earliest educational institutions in Bengal, which played a significant role in promoting education among the underprivileged.

Harinath Bhattacharya (1847-1923) was a revered scholar and philosopher who made notable contributions to the study of Indian philosophy and metaphysics. His work, "Vedanta Paribhasha," is considered a seminal text in the field of Vedanta philosophy.

The Bhattacharya surname has a rich history and has been associated with scholarly pursuits, literary achievements, social reforms, and scientific advancements throughout the centuries in the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bhattacharya

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

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

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

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