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

Karri, 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 Karri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karri in America

Karri is the 59171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karri surname appeared 342 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 Karri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karri 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 Karri

The surname Karri has its origins in India, specifically in the southern state of Karnataka. The name can be traced back to the 13th century and is believed to be derived from the Kannada word "kari," which means "black."

In the ancient Hindu caste system, the name Karri was associated with the Kshatriya caste, which comprised rulers, warriors, and landowners. It is speculated that the name was initially given to individuals with darker complexions or those who worked in professions that involved exposure to soot or charcoal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karri can be found in the Vijayanagar Empire's inscriptions from the 14th century. These inscriptions mention the name in reference to prominent military commanders and administrators who served under the Vijayanagar rulers.

During the 16th century, the name Karri gained prominence in the Deccan region of India, particularly in the Maratha Empire. The Maratha archives from this period mention several notable individuals bearing the name, including Karri Shivaji Raje, a prominent military leader who served under the legendary Maratha ruler, Shivaji.

In the 18th century, the name Karri was also found in the records of the Nizam of Hyderabad's court, where several individuals with this surname held influential positions as advisors and diplomats.

One of the most renowned figures with the surname Karri was Karri Anant Shastri (1866-1941), a prominent scholar and linguist from Karnataka. He made significant contributions to the study of Kannada literature and was instrumental in the revival of the ancient Kannada script.

Another notable person with the surname Karri was Karri Venkateswara Rao (1892-1963), a renowned Indian playwright and novelist who wrote extensively in the Telugu language. His works, such as "Mricchakatika" and "Uttara Ramacharita," are considered classics in Telugu literature.

The name Karri has also been associated with several place names in Karnataka, such as Karri Village and Karri Nagar, further solidifying its roots in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Karri has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from warriors and rulers to scholars and artists, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this name in India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karri

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

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

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

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