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

Gantan, 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 Gantan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gantan in America

Gantan is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gantan surname appeared 100 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 Gantan.

The history of the last name Gantan

The surname Gantan is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, likely in the region that is now modern-day Pakistan. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating that it was derived from the Sanskrit word "gantana," meaning "calculation" or "counting."

One of the earliest documented references to the name Gantan can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative manual commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions a skilled mathematician and astronomer named Gantan, who was employed at the imperial court.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Gantan surname began to spread across the Indian subcontinent, with families bearing the name residing in various regions, including what is now Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Notable individuals from this period include Gantan Singh (1620-1692), a renowned military leader and strategist in the Maratha Empire, and Gantan Chandra (1745-1812), a respected scholar and poet from Bengal.

As the British Empire expanded its influence in India, the Gantan surname found its way into colonial records and documents. One example is the East India Company's records from the late 18th century, which mention a merchant named Gantan Das who traded in spices and textiles.

In the 19th century, the Gantan surname began to appear in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and travel. One notable figure from this era was Gantan Mishra (1825-1895), a philosopher and teacher who spent several years in Europe, lecturing on Indian philosophy and culture.

Another significant individual was Gantan Lal (1872-1947), a pioneering Indian journalist and social reformer who advocated for women's rights and education. He founded several newspapers and played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.

As the diaspora of South Asian communities expanded globally, the Gantan surname spread to various countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. However, it remains relatively uncommon outside of South Asia, particularly in comparison to more prevalent surnames from the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gantan

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

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 Gantan 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.

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

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

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