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

Gunawardena, 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 Gunawardena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunawardena in America

Gunawardena is the 103181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunawardena surname appeared 174 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 Gunawardena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunawardena 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 Gunawardena

The surname Gunawardena is of Sri Lankan origin, with its roots dating back to the ancient Sinhalese language spoken on the island nation. The name is believed to have been derived from the Sinhalese words "Guna," meaning virtue or quality, and "Wardena," meaning growth or development. Thus, the name Gunawardena can be interpreted as "one who possesses virtuous qualities and growth."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Gunawardena can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was primarily used by members of the Sinhalese aristocracy and landed gentry. During this period, Sri Lanka was known as the Kingdom of Kandy, and many records from that era mention individuals bearing the Gunawardena surname.

One notable example is Don Juan Gunawardena, a prominent courtier and diplomat who served under the Kandyan kings in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and maintaining diplomatic relations with European powers, such as the Dutch East India Company.

In the 19th century, the Gunawardena name gained further prominence with the birth of Charles Edward Gunawardena (1825-1899), a pioneering Ceylonese lawyer and statesman. He was among the first Sri Lankans to be admitted to the bar and was instrumental in promoting the rights and interests of the local population during British colonial rule.

Another distinguished figure was Sir Robert Gunawardena (1889-1970), a respected politician and diplomat who served as the first Ceylonese Ambassador to China and later as the High Commissioner to India. He played a pivotal role in strengthening diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and its neighboring countries.

The name Gunawardena has also been associated with literary and artistic circles. One notable bearer was Martin Gunawardena (1934-2009), a renowned Sri Lankan artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited worldwide. His sculptures and paintings often explored themes of Sri Lankan culture and identity.

In the field of science, Dr. Kamini Gunawardena (1930-2021) was a pioneering Sri Lankan biochemist and academic. She made significant contributions to the study of natural products and their potential medicinal applications, earning international recognition for her research.

While the Gunawardena surname has its origins in Sri Lanka, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots remain deeply entrenched in the rich cultural heritage of the Sinhalese people and their ancestral homeland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunawardena

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

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

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

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