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

Gurnani, 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 Gurnani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gurnani in America

Gurnani is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gurnani surname appeared 165 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 Gurnani.

The history of the last name Gurnani

The surname Gurnani has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of India and Pakistan. The name is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "guru," which means teacher or spiritual guide. It is likely that the ancestors of those bearing this name were associated with religious or educational institutions.

The earliest recorded instances of the Gurnani surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the Mughal Empire. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Gurnani" or "Gurunani," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and transliteration from local languages to Persian and Arabic scripts.

One notable historical figure bearing the Gurnani surname was Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion. Although not directly related to the surname, his teachings and philosophy had a profound impact on the region and may have influenced the adoption of names related to the word "guru."

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Gurnani name gained prominence in the regions of Punjab and Sindh, which were ruled by different dynasties and empires. Several individuals with this surname held influential positions in various fields, including politics, academia, and literature.

One such figure was Khair-ud-Din Gurnani (1821-1875), a renowned scholar and poet from Sindh, who contributed significantly to the literary and cultural heritage of the region. Another notable figure was Mian Abdul Haq Gurnani (1838-1912), a prominent political leader and reformist from Punjab, who played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of the Muslim community during the British Raj.

As the Gurnani family members migrated and settled in different parts of the Indian subcontinent and beyond, the surname underwent further variations in spelling and pronunciation. Some of the alternative spellings include Gurnanee, Guranani, and Gurnawni, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the regions where the name was adopted.

Throughout history, the Gurnani surname has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including education, religion, literature, and politics. While the exact origins and meanings may have evolved over time, the name remains deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gurnani

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

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

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

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