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

Herath, 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 Herath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herath in America

Herath is the 69579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herath surname appeared 282 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 Herath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herath 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 Herath

The surname HERATH originated in Sri Lanka, a country located in the Indian subcontinent. The name's roots can be traced back to the 14th century, when it was commonly used among the Sinhalese people of the island nation. HERATH is derived from the Sinhala language, where it is believed to have originated from the word "herat," meaning "gold" or "precious."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HERATH surname can be found in the ancient Sinhalese chronicle Culavamsa, which documents the history of Sri Lanka from the 4th to the 18th centuries. The name is mentioned in reference to several notable figures, including a prominent Buddhist monk named Herath Thera, who lived during the 15th century and was renowned for his teachings and scholarly contributions.

In the 16th century, the HERATH name gained further prominence when a prominent family from the city of Matara, located in southern Sri Lanka, rose to power and influence. This family, known as the Herath Mudiyanselage, played a significant role in the region's governance and cultural affairs during the latter part of the kingdom of Kandy's reign.

One of the most celebrated individuals bearing the HERATH surname was Don Juan Herath Bandara (1531-1597), a Sinhalese nobleman and military leader who fought against the Portuguese colonial forces in Sri Lanka. His bravery and strategic prowess earned him a legendary status in the country's history.

Another notable figure was Don Siman Herath (1729-1804), a revered Buddhist scholar and poet who made significant contributions to Sinhala literature during the late 18th century. His works, which included translations of ancient Buddhist texts and original compositions, helped to preserve and promote the island's rich cultural heritage.

In the 20th century, the HERATH name continued to be associated with influential individuals, such as Dr. H.V. Herath (1903-1987), a pioneering Sri Lankan physician and academic who played a crucial role in establishing modern medical education in the country.

Other notable individuals with the HERATH surname include Gamini Herath (1948-2020), a celebrated Sri Lankan cricketer who represented his national team in the 1970s and 1980s, and Lal Herath (born 1956), a renowned Sri Lankan artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herath

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

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

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

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