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

Karki, 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 Karki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karki in America

Karki is the 19782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karki surname appeared 1,360 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 Karki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karki 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 Karki

The surname Karki originated in the region of present-day Nepal. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "karkati," which means "sharp" or "pointed." This name was likely given to individuals who lived in or near mountainous areas, possibly referring to their residence near peaks or ridges.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karki can be traced back to the 14th century, during the reign of the Malla Dynasty in Nepal. Historical records from that period mention several individuals with the surname Karki serving as court officials and military commanders.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Bhanu Karki played a significant role in the unification of various Nepalese kingdoms under the leadership of King Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723-1775). Bhanu Karki served as a trusted advisor and military strategist, contributing to the establishment of the modern Nepalese state.

Another prominent individual with the surname Karki was Kaji Amar Singh Karki (1856-1924), a Nepalese military leader and politician. He held influential positions during the Rana regime and was instrumental in modernizing the Nepalese army.

The Karki surname can also be found in various regions of India, particularly in areas bordering Nepal, suggesting migration and cultural exchange between the two regions.

In the literary realm, Bhupi Sherchan Karki (1936-2019) was a renowned Nepali writer and poet. His works explored themes of social injustice, political turmoil, and the human condition, earning him numerous accolades and a place in the canon of Nepali literature.

Historically, variations of the spelling include Karkey, Karkee, and Karkey, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic adaptations over time.

While the Karki surname may have humble origins, it has produced numerous notable individuals who have left their mark on the history and culture of Nepal and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karki

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

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

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

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