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

Gunasekera, 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 Gunasekera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunasekera in America

Gunasekera is the 94730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunasekera surname appeared 193 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 Gunasekera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunasekera 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 Gunasekera

The surname GUNASEKERA has its origins in Sri Lanka, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is a combination of two words from the Sinhalese language – "Guna" meaning virtues or qualities, and "Sekera" meaning teacher or preacher. This suggests that the name was originally associated with individuals who possessed admirable traits and were responsible for imparting knowledge or spiritual guidance.

The earliest known records of the GUNASEKERA surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was documented in ancient palm-leaf manuscripts. These manuscripts were typically used to record genealogies, historical events, and literary works of that time. The name is believed to have been prevalent among the educated and scholarly class, particularly in the central and southern regions of Sri Lanka.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the GUNASEKERA name was Ven. Gunasekera Thero, a renowned Buddhist monk who lived in the 15th century. He was highly respected for his vast knowledge of Buddhist scriptures and his contributions to the preservation and propagation of the Theravada Buddhist tradition in Sri Lanka.

In the 16th century, the GUNASEKERA name gained prominence with the emergence of Don Juan Gunasekera, a prominent courtier and advisor to the Kandyan Kingdom. He played a crucial role in diplomatic affairs and is credited with negotiating treaties with the Portuguese and Dutch colonial powers.

During the 19th century, the GUNASEKERA family produced several notable scholars and intellectuals. One such figure was Mudaliyar Don Philip Gunasekera (1823-1891), a pioneering journalist and author who played a pivotal role in the development of Sinhalese literature and the promotion of education in Sri Lanka.

Another prominent individual was Don Charles Gunasekera (1848-1919), a revered lawyer and judge who served as the Solicitor General of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was widely respected for his integrity and contributions to the legal system during the British colonial period.

In more recent times, Dr. Jayanthi Gunasekera (1939-2018) gained international recognition as a renowned Sri Lankan botanist and environmentalist. She made significant contributions to the study of plant biodiversity and played a pivotal role in establishing several nature reserves and conservation initiatives in Sri Lanka.

While the GUNASEKERA surname has its roots firmly embedded in Sri Lankan history and culture, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and connection to the island nation's rich heritage remain an integral part of its identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunasekera

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

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

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

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