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

Deshpande, 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 Deshpande surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Deshpande in America

Deshpande is the 13360th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Deshpande surname appeared 2,281 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Deshpande.

We can also compare 2010 data for Deshpande 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 Deshpande

The surname Deshpande has its origins in India, specifically in the western and central regions of the subcontinent. It dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words 'desha,' meaning 'country' or 'region,' and 'pande,' which refers to a learned person or scholar.

Deshpande was a title conferred upon individuals who were well-versed in various fields of knowledge, such as philosophy, religion, and astrology. These learned men often served as advisors to rulers and noble families, providing guidance on matters of governance, rituals, and cultural traditions.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Deshpande can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This work mentions several individuals bearing the Deshpande surname who held prominent positions in the imperial court.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Mukundraj Deshpande emerged as a renowned astrologer and scholar in the court of the Yadava dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka. His contributions to the field of astrology and his writings on astronomical calculations were highly regarded during that era.

Another prominent individual with the surname Deshpande was Govind Pant Deshpande, who lived in the 17th century and served as a minister in the court of the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj. He played a crucial role in the administration and governance of the Maratha Empire.

In the realm of literature, Vishnudas Deshpande, born in the 18th century, was a celebrated Marathi poet and playwright. His works, such as the famous play "Samsharakalik," explored themes of social reform and the critique of prevailing societal norms.

During the 19th century, Mahadev Govind Deshpande, a renowned scholar and reformer, made significant contributions to the field of education and social upliftment. He founded several educational institutions and advocated for the education of women and the empowerment of marginalized communities.

Throughout history, the Deshpande surname has been associated with individuals who excelled in various fields, such as academia, literature, governance, and social reform. Their contributions have left an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Deshpande

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

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

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

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