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

Bose, 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 Bose surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bose in America

Bose is the 9547th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bose surname appeared 3,406 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 Bose.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bose 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 Bose

The surname Bose originates from India, where it has been in use since ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhos," which means "light" or "radiance." The name is particularly prevalent in the eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha, indicating its roots in the Bengali and Odia cultures.

In the medieval period, the Bose surname was associated with the Brahmin caste, who were revered as scholars and priests. Historical records from the 11th century mention Bose families residing in the regions of Bengal and Odisha, where they held positions of influence in local governance and religious institutions.

One of the earliest known references to the Bose surname can be found in the Pala inscriptions of the 8th century CE. These inscriptions document the existence of Bose scholars and poets who contributed to the rich literary traditions of the time.

The name gained further prominence during the Mughal era, when several Bose individuals held prominent positions in the imperial court. Anandram Bose, a 17th-century poet and philosopher, was highly regarded for his works on Hindu philosophy and ethics.

In the 19th century, the Bose family played a significant role in the Bengali Renaissance and the Indian independence movement. Jagadish Chandra Bose (1858-1937), a renowned scientist and polymath, is widely celebrated for his pioneering work in the field of biophysics and his contributions to the study of plant life.

Another notable figure is Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), a leading figure in the Indian independence movement and the founder of the Indian National Army. His unwavering dedication to India's freedom struggle and his charismatic leadership made him a revered figure in the country's history.

Other distinguished individuals with the Bose surname include Amar Nath Bose (1929-2013), the founder of the Bose Corporation and a pioneer in audio technology; Buddhadeb Bose (1944-), a renowned Bengali poet and former Chief Minister of West Bengal; and Nirmala Sitharaman (1959-), the current Finance Minister of India.

The Bose surname has also been associated with various place names in India, such as Bose Pukur and Bose Para in West Bengal, which further attests to the historical significance and widespread presence of the name in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bose

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

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

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

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