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

Borah, 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 Borah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Borah in America

Borah is the 25037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Borah surname appeared 992 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 Borah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Borah 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 Borah

The surname Borah originated in India, specifically from the northern states of Punjab and Haryana. Its roots can be traced back to the 16th century or earlier. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Brahma," which refers to the Hindu creator god, and the word "Hor," meaning a person of high status or a master.

Historically, the Borah surname was associated with the Brahmin caste, the highest caste in the Hindu social hierarchy. Members of this caste were traditionally involved in religious, educational, and administrative roles. The name is believed to have been adopted by families who held prominent positions within their communities or were respected scholars or spiritual leaders.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Borah name can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document contains a list of notable families and individuals, including some with the Borah surname, indicating their social standing and influence during that time.

In the 18th century, a Brahmin scholar named Pandit Vishnu Borah authored several Sanskrit texts on astrology and astronomy, including the "Vishnu Borah Siddhanta." His works were highly regarded and contributed to the preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge.

During the British colonial period in India, the Borah surname was also associated with individuals who held prominent positions within the administrative and legal systems. Notable figures include Sir Manubhai Mehta Borah (1886-1962), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

Another prominent individual with the Borah surname was Dr. Nalinaksha Borah (1912-1996), a renowned historian and academic who specialized in the study of ancient Indian history and culture. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University and was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to education and literature.

In more recent times, the Borah name has also been associated with political figures, such as William Edgar Borah (1865-1940), a influential United States Senator from Idaho who played a significant role in shaping American foreign policy during the early 20th century.

While the Borah surname originated in India and was historically associated with the Brahmin caste, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and other countries, due to immigration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Borah

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

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

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

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