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

Ganges, 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 Ganges surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganges in America

Ganges is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganges surname appeared 116 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 Ganges.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganges 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 Ganges

The surname Ganges is believed to have originated from the river Ganges in India. The name likely derived from the Sanskrit word "Ganga," which means "river" or "stream." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near or were associated with the Ganges River.

The Ganges River has been a significant part of Indian culture and history for thousands of years. It is considered sacred in Hinduism and has played a crucial role in the development of civilizations along its banks. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ganges can be traced back to the 16th century in British colonial records.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ganges was Sir John Ganges, an English merchant and adventurer born in 1570. He was one of the founders of the East India Company and played a significant role in establishing British trade routes in India.

Another notable figure was William Ganges, born in 1628, who served as a captain in the British East India Company's maritime fleet. He was instrumental in securing trade agreements with local rulers along the Ganges River and helped establish the company's presence in the region.

In the 18th century, Sir Edward Ganges (1723-1789) was a prominent British naval officer who served in the East Indies. He participated in several battles against the French and Dutch forces, contributing to British supremacy in the Indian Ocean.

During the 19th century, Charles Ganges (1811-1885) was a British explorer and surveyor. He is credited with mapping large portions of the Ganges River basin and documenting the geography and communities along its banks.

The surname Ganges also has connections to place names in India. The city of Gangotri, located in the Himalayas, is considered the source of the Ganges River. Similarly, the town of Ganga Sagar in West Bengal is a famous pilgrimage site where the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal.

While the surname Ganges is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural and geographical significance of the Ganges River in India. The name has been borne by merchants, explorers, naval officers, and surveyors, reflecting the diverse roles played by its bearers throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganges

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

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

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

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