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

Gunasekaran, 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 Gunasekaran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunasekaran in America

Gunasekaran is the 91981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunasekaran surname appeared 200 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 Gunasekaran.

The history of the last name Gunasekaran

The surname Gunasekaran has its origins in the Tamil language, spoken predominantly in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the northern parts of Sri Lanka. It is a compound word derived from the Tamil words "Guna" meaning virtue or excellence, and "Sekaran" meaning crown or crest. Therefore, the surname Gunasekaran roughly translates to "one with crowned virtues" or "one with virtuous excellence".

Historically, surnames derived from personal qualities or virtues were common among the Tamil Brahmin community, particularly during the medieval Chola and Pandya empires that ruled over vast territories in southern India and Sri Lanka between the 9th and 13th centuries. The name Gunasekaran likely emerged during this period as a way to convey the individual's virtuous or noble characteristics.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Gunasekaran can be found in the inscriptions and copper-plate grants issued by the Chola kings, which documented land grants and administrative appointments. These inscriptions, dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries, often mentioned individuals with the surname Gunasekaran holding positions of importance in the royal court or as village administrators.

Notable individuals with the surname Gunasekaran throughout history include Gunasekaran Arunachalam (1901-1976), a renowned Tamil scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Tamil literature. Another prominent figure was Gunasekaran Narayanaswamy (1923-2002), a highly respected Indian civil servant who served in various senior positions in the Indian government.

In Sri Lanka, the name Gunasekaran has been associated with several influential figures, including Gunasekaran Sinniah (1930-2015), a prominent lawyer and human rights activist who campaigned for the rights of the Tamil minority during the country's civil war. Gunasekaran Devasahayam (1931-2008) was a renowned Tamil writer and literary critic who received numerous awards for his contributions to Tamil literature.

Gunasekaran Mudaliyar (1877-1954) was a distinguished Indian businessman and philanthropist who established several educational institutions and charitable organizations in Sri Lanka, leaving a lasting impact on the Tamil community's educational and social development.

The surname Gunasekaran continues to be widely used among Tamil communities in India and Sri Lanka, carrying the historical significance of virtuous excellence and nobility. While the name has evolved over time, its origins and meaning remain deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Tamil people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunasekaran

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

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

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

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