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

Iyengar, 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 Iyengar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Iyengar in America

Iyengar is the 25924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Iyengar surname appeared 948 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 Iyengar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Iyengar 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 Iyengar

The surname Iyengar has its origins in India, tracing back several centuries. It is believed to have emerged in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where it was initially associated with the Brahmin community of scholars and priests.

Iyengar is derived from the Tamil word "Ayyangaran," which means a preceptor or a revered teacher. It was a title bestowed upon learned individuals who excelled in the study of sacred texts, philosophy, and various branches of Hindu scriptures.

In ancient records and manuscripts, the name Iyengar is often found in connection with prominent scholars and spiritual leaders. One of the earliest known references is in the 7th-century Sanskrit text, the "Brihat Samhita," which mentions the name in relation to astrological calculations.

The earliest recorded individual bearing the name Iyengar is believed to be Shri Vedanta Desika, a prominent philosopher and theologian who lived between 1268 and 1369 CE. He was a prolific writer and a revered figure in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Another notable Iyengar was Krishnadevaraya, a celebrated ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, who reigned from 1509 to 1529 CE. He was a patron of arts, literature, and architecture, and his reign is considered a golden era in the history of southern India.

In the 16th century, the name Iyengar gained prominence with the life and teachings of Sri Ramanuja, a renowned philosopher and spiritual leader. He is credited with reviving the Vishishtadvaita school of Hindu philosophy and establishing the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

During the 18th century, Mahaperiyava Iyengar, a renowned spiritual leader and scholar, played a significant role in preserving and propagating the teachings of Sri Ramanuja. His followers and disciples carried on the Iyengar tradition, contributing to its widespread recognition.

One of the most influential figures in modern times was B.K. Iyengar (1918-2014), a renowned yoga teacher and author. He popularized the practice of yoga worldwide and is credited with developing the Iyengar style of yoga, which emphasizes precision and alignment.

Throughout history, the surname Iyengar has been associated with a rich heritage of scholarship, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits, reflecting the esteemed position held by its bearers in Indian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Iyengar

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

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

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

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