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

Chandran, 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 Chandran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chandran in America

Chandran is the 27950th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chandran surname appeared 858 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 Chandran.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chandran 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 Chandran

The surname Chandran originates from India and has its roots in the Tamil language. It is derived from the Tamil word "chandra," which means "moon" or "bright." The name likely originated during the medieval period in the southern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chandran can be found in ancient Tamil literature, such as the Sangam period works, which date back to the first few centuries CE. These works often mentioned individuals with names related to celestial bodies, including the moon, reflecting the cultural and mythological significance of these celestial objects in ancient Tamil society.

During the medieval period, the Chandran surname was commonly associated with Tamil Brahmin communities, particularly in the regions of the Chola and Pandya kingdoms, which ruled over large parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and neighboring areas. Some historical records from this period, such as temple inscriptions and royal chronicles, mention individuals with the surname Chandran holding positions of importance, including scholars, poets, and administrators.

One notable historical figure with the surname Chandran was Chandramouli Chandran, a renowned Tamil poet and scholar who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his works on grammar, poetry, and Hindu philosophy, and he served as a court poet under the Nayak rulers of Madurai.

Another prominent individual with the surname Chandran was Sivakkolundu Chandran, who lived in the 17th century and was a renowned Tamil scholar and poet. He authored several works on Tamil literature, grammar, and philosophy, and his contributions were highly respected in the literary circles of his time.

In the 19th century, Subramaniya Chandran, a Tamil scholar and social reformer, played a significant role in the revival of Tamil literature and the promotion of education among the Tamil community. He established several educational institutions and published works on Tamil grammar and literature.

The surname Chandran has also been associated with place names in Tamil Nadu, such as Chandranallur, which means "the town of the moon." This village, located near Chennai, has a historical temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and its name is believed to be derived from the Tamil words "chandra" (moon) and "nallur" (village).

Throughout history, the surname Chandran has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, administrators, and influential figures in the Tamil community. While the name has its origins in the Tamil language and culture, it has also gained recognition and presence in other parts of India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chandran

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

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

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

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