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

Gana, 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 Gana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gana in America

Gana is the 49723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gana surname appeared 422 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 Gana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gana 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 Gana

The surname GANA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged around the 8th century CE, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GANA can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and inscriptions, where it was often used as a title or honorific, particularly for individuals involved in artistic or scholarly pursuits. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "gana," which translates to "group" or "multitude," suggesting a possible connection to a guild or community of artisans or intellectuals.

In the 12th century, the name GANA appeared in various Persian and Arabic manuscripts, indicating its spread and adoption across the Indian subcontinent and beyond. These records often referred to individuals with the name GANA as poets, musicians, or scholars, further solidifying the name's association with the arts and intellectual pursuits.

One notable figure bearing the surname GANA was Kalidas Gana, a renowned Sanskrit poet and playwright who lived in the 4th or 5th century CE. His works, such as the epic poem "Raghuvamsa" and the play "Shakuntala," are considered literary masterpieces and have had a lasting influence on Indian literature and culture.

Another prominent individual with the surname GANA was Abul Fazl Gana, a celebrated Persian historian and author who lived during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. His seminal work, the "Akbarnama," provided a detailed account of Akbar's reign and is regarded as a significant historical source for that period.

In the 18th century, the name GANA gained further prominence with the birth of Ghulam Haider Gana, a renowned Urdu poet and scholar from present-day Pakistan. His poetic works, particularly his ghazals (a form of lyrical poetry), are widely celebrated and have been influential in the development of Urdu literature.

The name GANA has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout the Indian subcontinent. For instance, the town of Ganapur in the Indian state of Rajasthan is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname GANA who settled in the area.

Over the centuries, the surname GANA has undergone various spelling variations, such as Gana, Gunna, and Ganna, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences across the region. However, the core meaning and associations with artistic and intellectual pursuits have remained consistent throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gana

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

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

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

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