Ka last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Ka

Of Iranian origin, referring to an individual from the Ka region.

Ka, 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 Ka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ka in America

Ka is the 29626th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ka surname appeared 795 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 Ka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ka 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 29626 36999 -22.13%
Count 795 568 33.31%
Proportion per 100k 0.27 0.21 25.00%

The history of the last name Ka

The surname KA is believed to have originated in India, likely during the 8th or 9th century AD. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ka," which means "who" or "what." This name was likely given to those who were considered inquisitive or curious by nature.

The earliest known record of the name KA can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and manuscripts from the region. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was a renowned scholar and philosopher named Ka Bharavi, who lived in the 7th century AD.

During the medieval period, the name KA was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of India, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It was often associated with scholarly or intellectual pursuits, as many KAs were known for their contributions to literature, poetry, and philosophy.

One notable figure from this era was Ka Nampillai, a Tamil poet and scholar who lived in the 14th century. His works played a significant role in the development of Tamil literature and are still widely studied today.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the name KA spread to other parts of India and even beyond its borders. In the 16th century, a prominent KA family settled in the region of Bengal, where they became influential landowners and patrons of the arts.

A famous member of this family was Ka Siraj, a renowned poet and writer who lived from 1564 to 1645. His works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and human nature, are considered literary masterpieces in Bengali literature.

In the 18th century, a KA named Ka Anant Rao rose to prominence as a skilled military leader and strategist. He served under the Maratha Empire and played a crucial role in several important battles against the Mughals and other rivals.

As the centuries passed, the KA surname continued to be associated with intellectual and artistic pursuits. In the 19th century, a notable figure was Ka Nageshudu, a Telugu writer and social reformer who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of certain societal practices.

Throughout its history, the surname KA has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, warriors, and social reformers. While its origins can be traced back to ancient India, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be a part of the rich cultural tapestry of the subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ka

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

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 Ka was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 14.97% 119
Non-Hispanic Black Only 20.75% 165
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 57.23% 455
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.41% 43
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Ka has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 14.97% 13.91% 7.34%
Black 20.75% 14.61% 34.73%
Asian and Pacific Islander 57.23% 64.96% -12.65%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 5.41% 5.63% -3.99%
Hispanic (S)% 0.88% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Ka last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 21, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/ka-surname-popularity/.

"Ka last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/ka-surname-popularity/. Accessed 21 November, 2024

Ka last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/ka-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.