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

Chara, 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 Chara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chara in America

Chara is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chara surname appeared 114 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 Chara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chara 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 Chara

The surname Chara has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, tracing back to ancient times. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "charu," which means "pleasing" or "beautiful." This name was initially associated with individuals who possessed an attractive physical appearance or a charming personality.

In the early medieval period, the Chara name began to appear in various historical records across the region now known as India and Pakistan. One of the earliest documented references dates back to the 7th century CE, where it was mentioned in a Sanskrit inscription found in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Chara name gained prominence among the nobility and upper classes. Several notable figures from this era bore the surname, including Mir Charag Ali Chara (1560-1625), a renowned poet and scholar who served as a courtier under the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

As the British colonial presence in India grew, the name Chara became more widespread, appearing in various official records and documents. One notable individual from this period was Dhanpat Rai Chara (1825-1898), a prominent intellectual and social reformer who advocated for women's education and the eradication of child marriage.

In the 20th century, the Chara surname continued to be carried by influential individuals across various fields. Ruchi Chara (1905-1986) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer who played a significant role in promoting and preserving the traditional dance forms of Kathak and Manipuri. Another notable figure was Anil Chara (1932-2018), a renowned Indian writer and playwright who received the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of India's highest literary honors, in 1978.

Beyond the Indian subcontinent, the Chara name has also made its mark in other parts of the world. One such example is Shulamith Chara (1945-2011), an Israeli author and poet who was born in India but later immigrated to Israel. Her works often explored themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of cultural assimilation.

While the Chara surname has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to various corners of the globe, carried by individuals who have contributed to various fields and left an indelible mark on their respective communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chara

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

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

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

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