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

Chanana, 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 Chanana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chanana in America

Chanana is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chanana surname appeared 102 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 Chanana.

The history of the last name Chanana

The surname CHANANA originated in India, specifically in the Punjab region. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chanan," which means "gram" or "chickpea." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for people involved in the cultivation, trade, or processing of chickpeas.

The earliest known records of the CHANANA surname can be traced back to the 16th century. Historical records from the Mughal Empire mention individuals with this surname holding various positions, including merchants, landowners, and administrators.

One of the earliest known references to the CHANANA surname is found in a manuscript from the 17th century, which details the genealogy of a prominent Punjabi family. This document mentions several members of the CHANANA clan who held influential positions during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

In the 18th century, the CHANANA surname gained prominence in the city of Amritsar, which was a major center of trade and commerce in Punjab. Several prominent individuals with this surname were involved in the establishment and management of the Golden Temple, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism.

Notable people with the CHANANA surname include:

1. Raja Ranjit Singh Chanana (1780-1839), a renowned military leader and statesman who played a significant role in the expansion of the Sikh Empire during the early 19th century.

2. Bhai Vir Singh Chanana (1872-1957), a renowned Sikh scholar, theologian, and writer who made significant contributions to the revival of the Punjabi language and literature.

3. Sardar Bahadur Gurcharan Singh Chanana (1901-1976), a prominent politician and social reformer who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and played a key role in shaping the country's constitution.

4. Dr. Kiran Chanana (1944-2018), a renowned educationist and gender studies scholar who served as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women in India from 2005 to 2008.

5. Satish Chanana, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Chanana Charitable Trust, an organization dedicated to promoting education and healthcare in rural areas of Punjab.

The CHANANA surname has also been associated with various place names in Punjab, such as Chanana Village and Chanana Mandi, which were likely named after prominent members of the CHANANA clan who settled or held influence in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chanana

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

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

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

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