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

Karnati, 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 Karnati surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karnati in America

Karnati is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karnati surname appeared 225 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 Karnati.

The history of the last name Karnati

The surname KARNATI has its origins in India, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Karna," meaning "ear," and may have been originally used as a descriptive name for someone with distinctive ears or hearing abilities.

KARNATI is predominantly found in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is associated with the Kapu, Reddy, and Velama communities. The name is also found among the Nair community in Kerala, suggesting possible migration patterns or shared linguistic roots.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the name KARNATI can be found in the Vijayanagar Empire records from the 16th century, where it appears as a surname in administrative documents. The name is also found in various village inscriptions and land records from that period, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the KARNATI surname was Karnati Ganga Reddy, a military commander and chieftain who played a significant role in the resistance against the Mughal Empire's expansion into the Deccan region.

During the 19th century, Karnati Venkataratnam Naidu, a prominent social reformer and educationist, worked tirelessly to promote education and social upliftment in the region. His contributions were recognized by the British Indian government, and he was awarded the prestigious title of "Rai Bahadur."

Another notable bearer of the KARNATI surname was Karnati Lakshminarasimha Rao, a renowned scholar and writer in the early 20th century. He authored several works on Telugu literature, including a comprehensive dictionary and grammar texts, cementing his place in the literary history of the region.

In the realm of performing arts, Karnati Ganesh Sharma, a celebrated Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer, gained international recognition for his mastery and contributions to the classical Indian dance form. He was born in 1924 and received numerous honors, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards.

The KARNATI surname has a rich history and cultural significance, with its roots deeply intertwined with the traditions and social fabric of southern India. While the name has evolved over centuries, its essence remains a testament to the diverse linguistic and cultural heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karnati

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

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 Karnati 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.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Karnati, 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!