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

Dev, 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 Dev surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dev in America

Dev is the 41164th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dev surname appeared 529 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 Dev.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dev 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 Dev

The surname "DEV" is believed to have originated in India, where it is thought to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "deva," which means "god" or "deity." This name has a long and rich history in the Indian subcontinent, with its roots stretching back to ancient times.

The earliest known references to the name "DEV" can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. These sacred writings often mention various deities and divine beings, many of whom were referred to as "devas" or "devatas."

In the medieval period, the name "DEV" became closely associated with the ruling elites and aristocratic families of various Indian kingdoms and empires. Many prominent rulers and nobles adopted the title "Dev" or "Deva" as part of their official names or titles, signifying their divine ancestry or divine right to rule.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name "DEV" can be found in the inscriptions and records of the Gupta Empire, which ruled over large parts of northern and central India between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. Several Gupta rulers, such as Chandragupta II (reigned c. 375-415 CE) and Kumaragupta I (reigned c. 415-455 CE), bore the title "Deva" in their official names.

Another notable figure in Indian history who bore the name "DEV" was Raja Deva I, the founder of the Kalachuri dynasty, which ruled over parts of central India between the 10th and 12th centuries. Raja Deva I (reigned c. 850-890 CE) is credited with establishing the city of Tripuri, which later became the capital of the Kalachuri kingdom.

In the southern regions of India, the name "DEV" was also prevalent among the rulers of the Chalukya dynasty, which dominated parts of the Deccan plateau between the 6th and 12th centuries. One of the most famous Chalukya rulers was Pulakeshin II (reigned c. 610-642 CE), who bore the title "Parameswara" or "Supreme Lord."

Beyond the Indian subcontinent, the name "DEV" has also found its way into other cultures and regions, particularly those with historical ties to India or influenced by Indian culture and traditions. For example, in parts of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, the name "DEV" or its variants can be found among certain ethnic groups and communities with Indian ancestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dev

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

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

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

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