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

Dhungana, 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 Dhungana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dhungana in America

Dhungana is the 54530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dhungana surname appeared 378 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 Dhungana.

The history of the last name Dhungana

The surname Dhungana has its origins in Nepal. It is a Nepali name that emerged during the medieval period, likely derived from the Nepali words "dhun" meaning "smoke" and "gana" meaning "to count" or "to reckon." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation related to counting or measuring smoke, potentially linked to a profession such as chimney sweeping or charcoal production.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Dhungana can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Malla dynasty in the Kathmandu Valley. Historical records from this period, including royal chronicles and land ownership documents, mention individuals bearing the name Dhungana, particularly in the regions surrounding the ancient city-states of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur.

One of the earliest known references to the name Dhungana appears in the "Gopalarajavamshavali," a genealogical account of the Malla kings of Nepal, dating back to the late 16th century. This text mentions a prominent figure named Dhungana Kaji, who served as a military commander and advisor to the Malla rulers.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Gorkha Kingdom expanded its influence across the Himalayan region, the Dhungana surname became more widespread. Several notable individuals from this era bore the name, including Kaji Dharma Dhungana, a military leader who played a crucial role in the unification of Nepal under the Shah dynasty in the late 18th century.

Another prominent figure with the Dhungana surname was Bhimsen Thapa Dhungana (1775-1839), a renowned Nepali military leader and statesman who served as the prime minister of Nepal during the early 19th century. He was instrumental in consolidating the newly unified Nepali state and establishing diplomatic relations with neighboring powers.

In the realm of literature, Lekhnath Dhungana (1868-1939) was a renowned Nepali poet and writer who contributed significantly to the development of modern Nepali literature. His works, including the epic poem "Bhanubhakta Ramayan," are considered literary masterpieces and have had a lasting impact on Nepali culture.

Ganesh Dhungana (1923-2006) was another notable figure who made significant contributions to Nepali literature and education. He was a prolific writer, poet, and educator who dedicated his life to promoting Nepali language and culture.

Throughout history, the Dhungana surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including military leaders, statesmen, writers, and intellectuals, reflecting the diverse roles and contributions of those bearing this name to the cultural and historical fabric of Nepal.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dhungana

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

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 Dhungana 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.

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

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

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