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

Jha, 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 Jha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jha in America

Jha is the 18317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jha surname appeared 1,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Jha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jha 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 Jha

The surname Jha originates from the Indian subcontinent, with its roots traced back to ancient times. It is primarily found in the northern regions of India, particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of West Bengal. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "jha," which means "knowledge" or "wisdom."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jha surname can be found in the Puranic texts, which are ancient Hindu scriptures. These texts mention individuals bearing the title "Jha," indicating their scholarly prowess and deep understanding of various subjects, including philosophy, astrology, and literature.

During the medieval period, the Jha surname was closely associated with the Maithili Brahmin community, a prestigious group known for their intellectual and scholarly pursuits. Many prominent figures from this community, such as poets, writers, and scholars, carried the Jha surname, contributing significantly to the rich cultural heritage of the region.

One notable example is Vidyapati Thakur (1352-1448), a celebrated poet and philosopher from the Maithili Brahmin community. His literary works, written in the Maithili and Sanskrit languages, are considered masterpieces and have had a profound influence on the literary traditions of the region.

Another prominent figure with the Jha surname is Ganganath Jha (1871-1941), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study and interpretation of ancient Indian texts, particularly the Nyaya and Vaisesika philosophies. His translations and commentaries on these texts are widely acclaimed and studied to this day.

In the field of mathematics, Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Jha (1928-2002) stands out as a distinguished mathematician and educator. He made notable contributions to the field of algebra and was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his exceptional work.

The Jha surname has also been associated with various other professions and fields, such as law, politics, and administration. One notable figure is Rajendra Prasad Jha (1923-2003), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1975 to 1977.

While the Jha surname has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the name remains closely tied to its Indian heritage and continues to be a source of pride and cultural identity for those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jha

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

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

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

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