Guha last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Guha

A surname of Indian origin, possibly derived from the Sanskrit word "guha" meaning cave or mountain.

Guha, 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 Guha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guha in America

Guha is the 37029th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guha surname appeared 603 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 Guha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Guha 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 37029 54766 -38.64%
Count 603 352 52.57%
Proportion per 100k 0.20 0.13 42.42%

The history of the last name Guha

The surname Guha has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, with origins traced back to the Sanskrit language. The name is believed to have derived from the word 'guha,' which means a cave or a cavern. This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived in or near caves or was perhaps a descriptive term for their physical appearance or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Guha can be found in ancient Hindu texts, particularly in the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. In these texts, Guha is portrayed as a tribal chief who assisted the avatar Rama during his exile in the forest. This literary reference indicates that the name has been in existence for several centuries.

During the medieval period, the Guha surname was prevalent among various communities in Bengal, Bihar, and the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent. Historical records from this era, such as local chronicles and inscriptions, often mention individuals with the Guha surname, indicating their prominence in various fields, including administration, education, and literature.

The Guha surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest known was Anandamath Guha, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 16th century. His works, which included philosophical treatises and devotional poetry, were highly regarded during his time. Another prominent figure was Rajeshwar Guha, a 17th-century scholar and author who wrote extensively on astronomy and mathematics.

In the 19th century, Pramatha Nath Guha emerged as a notable figure in the field of education. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in Bengal and played a crucial role in promoting modern education in the region. Satish Chandra Guha, born in 1882, was a renowned historian and archaeologist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian history and culture.

More recently, the Guha surname has been associated with several eminent personalities, including the acclaimed writer and essayist Ramachandra Guha, born in 1958. His works on Indian history, politics, and environmental issues have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. Another notable figure is the economist and author Ranjit Guha, whose research and writings have focused on development economics and the Indian economy.

While the Guha surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. The name continues to hold a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its ancient origins and the contributions of individuals who have carried it throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guha

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

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 Guha was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.48% 21
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 89.88% 542
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.80% 35
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Guha has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.48% 7.10% -68.43%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 89.88% 86.93% 3.34%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 5.80% 5.40% 7.14%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Guha last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 21, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/guha-surname-popularity/.

"Guha last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/guha-surname-popularity/. Accessed 21 November, 2024

Guha last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/guha-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.