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

Deva, 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 Deva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Deva in America

Deva is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Deva surname appeared 213 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 Deva.

We can also compare 2010 data for Deva 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 Deva

The surname Deva is believed to have originated in India, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "deva," which translates to "divine being" or "deity." This name was likely associated with individuals who had connections to religious or spiritual practices.

In Hindu mythology, the term "deva" is used to refer to divine beings or celestial deities, such as gods and goddesses. The name Deva may have been given to individuals who were believed to possess divine qualities or were associated with religious or spiritual activities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Deva can be found in ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. These sacred texts contain numerous references to devas, highlighting their significance in Hindu culture and mythology.

During the medieval period, the name Deva was prevalent in certain regions of India, particularly in the western and central parts of the subcontinent. It was commonly found among Brahmin families, who were traditionally associated with priestly and scholarly roles.

Notable individuals with the surname Deva throughout history include:

1. Shankara Deva (788-838 CE), a renowned Indian philosopher and theologian who revived and consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.
2. Madhava Deva (13th century), a prominent mathematician and astronomer from Kerala, known for his contributions to the fields of calculus and trigonometry.
3. Tulsidas Deva (1532-1623), a Hindu philosopher and poet who authored the epic Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Ramayana in the Awadhi dialect.
4. Gopi Krishna Deva (1903-1984), a renowned yogi and mystic who wrote extensively about his experiences with kundalini energy and spiritual enlightenment.
5. Jagadish Chandra Deva (1892-1969), an Indian educator and social reformer who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.

The name Deva has also been associated with various place names across India, such as Devagiri (now Daulatabad), Devanahalli, and Devaprayag, among others. These place names often refer to locations with religious or spiritual significance, further reflecting the connection between the name and its divine connotations.

While the surname Deva has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural and religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Deva

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

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

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

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