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

Gunasekara, 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 Gunasekara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunasekara in America

Gunasekara is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunasekara surname appeared 117 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 Gunasekara.

The history of the last name Gunasekara

The surname GUNASEKARA originates from Sri Lanka and is of Sinhalese origin. It is believed to have emerged during the Kandyan period of Sri Lankan history, which spanned from the late 15th century to the early 19th century.

The name GUNASEKARA is derived from two Sinhalese words: "guna," meaning virtue or quality, and "sekara," meaning a mountain or a peak. Together, the name can be interpreted as "virtuous mountain" or "mountain of qualities." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who possessed admirable traits or lived in mountainous regions.

Some of the earliest known records of the GUNASEKARA surname can be found in ancient Sinhalese literature and historical documents from the Kandyan Kingdom. The name appears in various forms, such as "Gunasekere" and "Gunasekara," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the most notable individuals bearing the GUNASEKARA surname was Mudliyar Don Abraham Gunasekara (1762-1848), a prominent Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) landowner and judicial officer during the British colonial period. He served as the Mudaliyar (chief headman) of the Salpiti Korale, a historical administrative division in Sri Lanka.

Another notable figure was Don Jeremias Gunasekara (1818-1892), a Ceylonese lawyer and politician who played a significant role in advocating for the rights of Sri Lankans during the British colonial era. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and worked towards the advancement of education and social reforms.

In the field of literature, Munidasa Gunasekara (1877-1947) was a renowned Sinhalese writer and playwright. He is best known for his works such as "Niti Nighanduwa" and "Kumaratunga Munidasa Kavya Sangrahaya," which contributed significantly to the development of Sinhalese literature.

Ediriweera Gunasekara (1899-1983) was a prominent Sinhalese playwright and novelist. His works, including "Maruwa Samaya" and "Dasammala," explored social issues and the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Sinhalese literature.

In the field of politics, Shirley Amerasinghe Gunasekara (1926-2021) was a Sri Lankan politician and diplomat who served as a Member of Parliament and held various ministerial positions in the Sri Lankan government. He played a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policy and represented Sri Lanka at international forums.

The GUNASEKARA surname has a rich history and has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, politics, law, and social reform in Sri Lanka. While the name's origins can be traced back to ancient times, its legacy continues to be carried forward by individuals of Sinhalese descent around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunasekara

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

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

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

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