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

Durga, 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 Durga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Durga in America

Durga is the 59470th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Durga surname appeared 340 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 Durga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Durga 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 Durga

The surname "DURGA" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the Sanskrit language. It is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess Durga, who is considered the embodiment of feminine power and the destroyer of evil forces. The name "Durga" itself is composed of two Sanskrit words: "dur" meaning "difficult" or "impassable," and "ga" meaning "to go through" or "to overcome."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "DURGA" can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. It is believed to have been adopted as a surname by devotees of the goddess or individuals who lived in areas associated with her worship. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Devi Mahatmya, a Hindu religious text that dates back to around the 5th or 6th century CE.

In the medieval period, the surname "DURGA" gained prominence among various Hindu communities across the Indian subcontinent. Notable individuals with this surname include Durga Prasad Khaitan (1892-1963), an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, and Durga Charan Banerjee (1835-1910), a Bengali writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Indian Renaissance.

During the Mughal era, the surname "DURGA" was also adopted by some Muslim families, particularly in regions where Hindu and Islamic cultures intermingled. One example is the 16th-century Mughal nobleman and military commander, Durga Das Rathore, who served under the emperor Akbar.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, individuals with the surname "DURGA" made significant contributions in various fields. Durga Prasad Khaitan, mentioned earlier, was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who founded several educational institutions and supported social welfare initiatives. Durga Charan Banerjee, also mentioned previously, was a renowned Bengali writer and journalist who advocated for social reforms and played a crucial role in the Bengal Renaissance.

Another notable figure is Durga Bhagwat (1920-2010), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who helped popularize and preserve the Kathak dance form. Durga Prasad Mishra (1910-1964) was a renowned Hindi writer, novelist, and critic who made significant contributions to modern Hindi literature.

It is important to note that while the surname "DURGA" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical references and notable individuals mentioned here primarily pertain to its origins and usage within the Indian context.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Durga

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

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

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

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