2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Chandnani
An Indian surname potentially derived from the Sanskrit term "Chandan" meaning sandalwood.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Chandnani. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chandnani 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Chandnani in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chandnani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.1%. The next largest groups are White (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chandnani
The surname Chandnani has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the western state of Rajasthan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century CE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chandan," which means "sandalwood," and the suffix "ani," which denotes a person's occupation or association with a particular trade or craft.
In ancient times, sandalwood was highly prized in India for its fragrance, medicinal properties, and use in religious rituals. It is possible that the Chandnani surname was initially borne by individuals involved in the cultivation, trade, or processing of sandalwood. The name may have originated in the renowned trading centers of Rajasthan, where merchants and artisans from various regions converged.
The earliest recorded instances of the Chandnani surname can be traced back to historical documents and records from the medieval period in Rajasthan. Some of the oldest known references to individuals bearing this surname appear in regional manuscripts and genealogical records maintained by local communities and families.
One notable figure associated with the Chandnani surname was Maharaj Chandnani, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his extensive trade networks spanning the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle East. His successful business ventures contributed to the prosperity of the region during that era.
Another individual of historical significance was Shri Gopal Chandnani, a revered scholar and spiritual leader from the 17th century. He was widely respected for his knowledge of ancient Hindu texts and his contributions to the preservation of traditional wisdom and practices.
In the 18th century, a figure named Rani Chandnani gained recognition for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the arts. She was a prominent member of the local nobility and played a crucial role in supporting cultural and educational institutions in her region.
Towards the latter part of the 19th century, Pandit Mohan Chandnani emerged as a prominent educator and reformer. He advocated for the advancement of education and social reforms, particularly in the areas of women's rights and education.
The name Chandnani has also been associated with various place names and historical locations within Rajasthan. For instance, the town of Chandnani Khurd and the nearby village of Chandnani Kalan are believed to have derived their names from the Chandnani surname, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in these areas.
Throughout its history, the Chandnani surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from merchants and traders to scholars, spiritual leaders, philanthropists, and reformers. While the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Rajasthan, it has since spread across India and beyond, reflecting the rich tapestry of the country's cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chandnani
Among Census respondents with the surname Chandnani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.1%. The next largest groups are White (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Chandnani 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 Chandnani surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.1% · 111
- White2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chandnani
Chandnani 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
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+9 bearers (+8.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,941 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +9 bearers (+8.3%) | Up 6,941 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 Chandnani 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 | #150,452 | #143,511 | 4.6% |
| Count | 109 | 118 | 8.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chandnani bearers went from 109 to 118 (+8.3% change). The surname moved up 6,941 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #143,511.
FAQ
Chandnani surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chandnani?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Chandnani. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Chandnani?
Chandnani ranks #143,511 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 118 people with the surname Chandnani. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), 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 Chandnani.
Has Chandnani become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chandnani went from 109 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 9 (+8.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Chandnani?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chandnani, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.1%. The next largest groups are White (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Chandnani in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.1% (111 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chandnani appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.1%), White (2.5%), Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Chandnani (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 Chandnani mean?
An Indian surname potentially derived from the Sanskrit term "Chandan" meaning sandalwood. 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 Chandnani (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 surname Chandnani?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.