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

Karna, 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 Karna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karna in America

Karna is the 71478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karna surname appeared 273 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 Karna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karna 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 Karna

The surname KARNA is of Indian origin, with roots tracing back to ancient times in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Karna," which means "ear" or "one with large ears." The name gained prominence in Hindu mythology, where Karna was a prominent character in the epic Mahabharata.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname KARNA can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and Hindu scriptures, where it was used to identify individuals associated with the mythological figure Karna. These texts date back to the 4th century BCE and provide valuable insights into the cultural significance and historical context of the name.

During the medieval period, the KARNA surname was prevalent among certain communities in India, particularly those with connections to the warrior class or the kshatriya varna. It is believed that some individuals adopted the name as a way to honor the legendary Karna, who was renowned for his skills as a warrior and archer.

In the 16th century, records from the Mughal Empire mention individuals with the surname KARNA holding positions of importance and influence. One notable example is Raja Karna Singh, a prominent ruler in the region of present-day Rajasthan, who lived from 1540 to 1612.

The KARNA surname has also been associated with various place names and regions within India. For instance, the town of Karnawati in Rajasthan is said to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting a historical connection between the name and the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname KARNA, including:

1. Karna Parva (c. 4th century BCE), a legendary figure from the Mahabharata, whose name literally means "the book of Karna."
2. Karna Singh (1587-1627), a Rajput ruler of the Amber kingdom in present-day Rajasthan.
3. Karna Bahadur Kunwar (1770-1839), a Nepalese military leader and politician.
4. Karna Sahay (1870-1952), an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Bihar.
5. Karna Bahadur Chand (1928-2010), a Nepalese politician and former Prime Minister of Nepal.

While the KARNA surname has its roots in Indian culture and mythology, it has also gained recognition beyond the subcontinent, with individuals of Indian descent carrying the name in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karna

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

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

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

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