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

Karanja, 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 Karanja surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karanja in America

Karanja is the 32960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karanja surname appeared 695 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 Karanja.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karanja 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 Karanja

The surname Karanja is believed to have originated from India, specifically in the regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Karanj," which refers to a type of evergreen tree known as the Pongamia pinnata or the Indian beech tree. This tree held significant importance in various aspects of Indian culture and traditions.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Karanja can be traced back to the 16th century, where it appeared in historical documents and records from the Maratha Empire. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals from the Maratha community, a prominent warrior clan that played a crucial role in the region's history.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Karanja was Shivaji Karanja, a prominent military commander who served under the Maratha ruler Shivaji Bhosale in the 17th century. Shivaji Karanja played a significant role in several battles and campaigns against the Mughal Empire.

In the 18th century, the Karanja surname gained further recognition with the rise of the Peshwa dynasty, a powerful lineage of Maratha rulers. Balaji Vishwanath Karanja, born in 1712, was a prominent statesman and diplomat who served as the Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha Empire.

Another notable figure with the Karanja surname was Gopalrao Karanja, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his literary works, including several acclaimed poetry collections that celebrated the Maratha culture and traditions.

During the 19th century, the Karanja surname continued to be prominent in various fields, including politics, literature, and arts. Nana Saheb Karanja, born in 1824, was a prominent leader who played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British colonial rule.

In more recent times, the Karanja surname has spread beyond its roots in Maharashtra and Karnataka, with individuals bearing this name found throughout India and in various parts of the world. However, the historical significance of this surname remains deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Maratha community and the regions where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karanja

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

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

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

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