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

Ganguly, 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 Ganguly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganguly in America

Ganguly is the 35447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganguly surname appeared 635 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 Ganguly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganguly 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 Ganguly

The surname Ganguly is of Indian origin, specifically from the Bengali language. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bengal, which is now divided between the Indian state of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh.

The name Ganguly is derived from the Bengali word "Ganguli," which refers to a person who lived near or was associated with the sacred Ganges River. The Ganges is one of the most revered rivers in Hinduism and has played a significant role in the cultural and religious life of Bengal for centuries.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ganguly can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The document mentions a person named Ganguly who held an administrative position in the Mughal Empire.

In the 17th century, the name Ganguly appeared in several Bengali literary works, including the poems of the renowned poet Bharat Chandra Ray Gunakar. One of the most famous Gangulys from this era was Mrityunjay Ganguly, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author who lived from 1662 to 1732.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ganguly name became more prominent in Bengal, with several individuals bearing the name making significant contributions to various fields. One notable figure was Ishwar Chandra Ganguly (1782-1861), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and writer who played a crucial role in the Bengal Renaissance.

Another famous Ganguly from this period was Pramatha Nath Ganguly (1867-1940), a renowned Bengali writer and journalist who was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement. He was also the founder of the influential Bengali literary magazine "Bharati."

In the 20th century, the Ganguly name continued to gain prominence, particularly in the fields of literature, sports, and politics. One of the most famous individuals with this surname is Sourav Ganguly (born 1972), a legendary Indian cricketer who captained the Indian national team and is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in the history of Indian cricket.

Another notable Ganguly from the 20th century was Arun Prasad Ganguly (1919-2004), a renowned Indian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.

While the surname Ganguly has its roots in Bengal, it has since spread to other parts of India and even to other countries due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and connection to the Ganges River remain an integral part of its historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganguly

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

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

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

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