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

Garba, 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 Garba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garba in America

Garba is the 71265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garba surname appeared 274 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 Garba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garba 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 Garba

The surname Garba has its origins in India, specifically in the state of Gujarat. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for drummers or musicians who played the Garba, a traditional dance form that involves playing rhythmic folk music.

In the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire, the name Garba was frequently found in historical records and manuscripts documenting the cultural traditions of the region. The earliest recorded instance of the name Garba dates back to a village chronicle from the year 1525, where it was spelled as "Garbha".

One of the most notable individuals bearing the surname Garba was Shri Jaydev Garba, a renowned poet and musician who lived in the 12th century. His compositions, which often celebrated the Garba dance and its rhythmic melodies, have been preserved and continue to be widely appreciated in Gujarati literature.

Another significant figure was Shri Kalidas Garba, a 17th-century scholar and author who wrote extensively on the traditional arts and cultural practices of Gujarat. His seminal work, "Garba Vijnana," published in 1673, is considered a comprehensive treatise on the history and significance of the Garba dance form.

In the 19th century, the name Garba gained prominence through the contributions of Shri Govardhan Garba, a celebrated artist and sculptor who specialized in intricate wood carvings. His masterpieces adorned many temples and palaces across Gujarat, and his works are now preserved in various museums and galleries.

During the medieval period, the name Garba was also associated with the ruling classes and nobles of the region. Historical records mention Maharaja Ranjit Garba, a prominent ruler of the Garba dynasty, who reigned over a princely state in present-day Gujarat in the 15th century.

Throughout history, the surname Garba has been linked to various place names and settlements in Gujarat, such as Garbapur, Garbawad, and Garbapuri, which further reinforces the name's deep-rooted connection to the region and its cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garba

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

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

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

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