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

Channa, 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 Channa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Channa in America

Channa is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Channa surname appeared 130 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 Channa.

The history of the last name Channa

The surname CHANNA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Punjab region. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "channa" or "chhana," which means "gram" or "chickpea." The name likely emerged as an occupational surname for those involved in the cultivation, processing, or trading of chickpeas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CHANNA can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document contains detailed records of the administrative and financial affairs of the Mughal Empire, including lists of landowners and their holdings.

During the medieval period, the CHANNA surname was particularly prominent among the Khatri community, a Hindu trading and business caste found primarily in the Punjab region. Many members of this community were engaged in the trade of grains, spices, and other agricultural commodities, which may have contributed to the surname's association with chickpeas.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the CHANNA surname was Lala Channa Mall, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the city of Amritsar. He is credited with financing the construction of several historical buildings, including the iconic Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.

Another prominent individual with the CHANNA surname was Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), a renowned Sikh theologian, scholar, and writer. He was born in the village of Amritsar and is revered for his contributions to the revival of the Punjabi language and literature, as well as his efforts in promoting Sikh teachings and values.

The CHANNA surname has also been associated with several historical place names in the Punjab region. One example is the village of Channa, located in the Patiala district of Punjab, which likely derived its name from the surname itself or from its association with the cultivation of chickpeas in the area.

Other notable individuals with the CHANNA surname include:

1. Gurkirat Singh Channa (born 1978), an Indian cricketer who played for the Punjab cricket team.
2. Lakhvir Singh Channa (1923-1998), an Indian politician and member of the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament).
3. Jagtar Singh Channa (1929-2013), an Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh from 1994 to 1999.
4. Prem Channa (born 1941), a British-Indian artist and sculptor known for her contemporary abstract works.
5. Prem Nath Channa (1923-2005), an Indian politician and member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian parliament).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Channa

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

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

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

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