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

Ganesh, 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 Ganesh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganesh in America

Ganesh is the 18326th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganesh surname appeared 1,512 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ganesh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganesh 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 Ganesh

The surname Ganesh originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Hindu religion and mythology. It is derived from the name of the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha, who is widely revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences.

Ganesh is a Sanskrit word that can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Puranas and the Vedas. The name is believed to have been in use for centuries, with references to Lord Ganesha found in manuscripts and inscriptions dating back to the 4th century CE.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ganesh can be found in the Chalukya dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh between the 6th and 12th centuries CE. Several inscriptions from this period mention individuals bearing the name Ganesh, often in association with their devotion to Lord Ganesha.

In the medieval period, the name Ganesh gained popularity among Hindu communities across India. It was particularly prevalent in regions where the worship of Lord Ganesha was deeply rooted, such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The name was often bestowed upon individuals as a mark of reverence and gratitude to the deity.

Notable historical figures with the surname Ganesh include Ganesh Udayar (1550-1625), a Tamil philosopher and scholar who authored several works on Hinduism and Saivism. Another noteworthy individual was Ganesh Damodar Madgavkar (1827-1920), a Marathi social reformer and educationist who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Fergusson College in Pune.

Ganesh Ramchandra Bhargava (1892-1967) was a prominent freedom fighter and social activist in the Indian independence movement. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the underprivileged sections of society.

The name Ganesh has also been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as Ganeshpur, Ganeshkhind, and Ganeshpuri, which are towns or localities named after Lord Ganesha or his devotees.

While the surname Ganesh has its origins in Hindu mythology and culture, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now found among diverse communities across India and beyond, reflecting the rich heritage and diversity of the subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganesh

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

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

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

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