2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Chaitram
An Indian surname originating from the Sanskrit words chaitram meaning "consciousness" and atram meaning "soul".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Chaitram. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chaitram surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Chaitram in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaitram, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.0%. The next largest groups are Black (27.3%) and Two or More Races (12.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chaitram
The surname CHAITRAM originates from India, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century or earlier. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit words "chaitanya" meaning "consciousness" or "awareness," and "ram" which is a name for the Hindu deity Rama. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals from religious or scholarly backgrounds.
The earliest known records of the CHAITRAM surname appear in historical documents and manuscripts from the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The name was prominent among Hindu communities and was often used by members of the Brahmin caste, which traditionally held positions of scholarly and religious significance.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the CHAITRAM surname was Pandit Shri Ram Chaitram, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and teacher who lived in the late 16th century. His works on Sanskrit grammar and literature were highly influential during his time and are still studied by scholars today.
In the 17th century, the CHAITRAM name appeared in various historical records, including land ownership documents and religious texts. During this period, the name was also associated with several notable figures, such as Chaitram Sharma, a revered Hindu priest and spiritual leader who was known for his teachings on the Bhagavad Gita.
As the centuries progressed, the CHAITRAM surname spread across different regions of India, and its bearers often held positions of respect and influence in their communities. In the 18th century, Chaitram Lal, a prominent landowner and philanthropist, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of educational institutions and social welfare initiatives in his region.
The 19th century saw the rise of Chaitram Vaidya, a celebrated Ayurvedic physician and scholar who authored several influential texts on traditional Indian medicine. His works helped preserve and propagate the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda, earning him widespread acclaim.
Another notable figure from this period was Chaitram Girdhari, a prominent businessman and trader who established successful trading routes between India and neighboring regions. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen left a lasting impact on the economic landscape of his time.
While the CHAITRAM surname has its origins in India, it has since been carried by individuals across various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and accounts mentioned above provide valuable insights into the rich heritage and significance of this surname within the Indian cultural and historical context.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chaitram
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaitram, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.0%. The next largest groups are Black (27.3%) and Two or More Races (12.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Chaitram bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chaitram surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander43.0% · 52
- Black or African American27.3% · 33
- Two or more races12.4% · 15
- White9.1% · 11
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.3% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chaitram
Chaitram appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+15 bearers (+14.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 12,460 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +15 bearers (+14.2%) | Up 12,460 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Chaitram surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #141,309 | 8.1% |
| Count | 106 | 121 | 14.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chaitram bearers went from 106 to 121 (+14.2% change). The surname moved up 12,460 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #141,309.
FAQ
Chaitram surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chaitram?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Chaitram. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Chaitram?
Chaitram ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Chaitram. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Chaitram.
Has Chaitram become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chaitram went from 106 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 15 (+14.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Chaitram?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaitram, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.0%. The next largest groups are Black (27.3%) and Two or More Races (12.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Chaitram in the 2020 Census, accounting for 43.0% (52 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chaitram appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (43.0%), Black (27.3%), Two or More Races (12.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Chaitram (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Chaitram mean?
An Indian surname originating from the Sanskrit words chaitram meaning "consciousness" and atram meaning "soul". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Chaitram (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Chaitram?
See how many people have the last name Chaitram on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.