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

Chitnis, 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 Chitnis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chitnis in America

Chitnis is the 69793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chitnis surname appeared 281 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 Chitnis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chitnis 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 Chitnis

The surname Chitnis is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "chitra," meaning "picture" or "painting," and the suffix "-nis," which denotes a profession or occupation. This suggests that the name may have been associated with those who worked as painters or artists.

The name Chitnis is primarily found in the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa. It is particularly prevalent in the Konkan region, which includes coastal areas of these states. The earliest known records of the name date back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Maratha Empire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Chitnis surname is Baji Rao Chitnis, a prominent military commander who served under the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in several battles against the Mughal Empire and is celebrated for his valor and strategic skills.

Another notable figure is Vasudeo Balkrishna Chitnis, a 19th-century scholar and author from Maharashtra. He wrote extensively on various subjects, including astronomy, astrology, and Ayurveda. His works, such as "Siddhantagrantha" and "Ayurvedakalpadruma," are considered influential in their respective fields.

In the 20th century, Vishnu Ganesh Chitnis was a renowned Marathi poet and literary critic. Born in 1892, he made significant contributions to the Marathi literary world through his poetry collections and critical essays. His works explored themes of social justice, spirituality, and the human condition.

Ramchandra Ganesh Chitnis, born in 1891, was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement and worked towards uplifting the marginalized sections of society through education and social initiatives.

Another notable figure is Shanta Chitnis, a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer. Born in 1928, she is credited with reviving and popularizing the Kathak dance form in India. Her performances and teachings have influenced generations of dancers and contributed to the preservation of this classical art form.

While the name Chitnis has its roots in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has a rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chitnis

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

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

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

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