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

Kartha, 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 Kartha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kartha in America

Kartha is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kartha surname appeared 119 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 Kartha.

The history of the last name Kartha

The surname KARTHA is of Indian origin, specifically from the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have emerged in the 15th century or earlier, derived from the Sanskrit word 'karta', which means 'doer' or 'maker'. This surname was commonly associated with certain communities and professions involved in agricultural activities, artisanal trades, and commerce.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KARTHA surname can be found in ancient inscriptions and copper plate grants from the Chera and Pandya dynasties that ruled over parts of present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These inscriptions, dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries, mention individuals with variations of the KARTHA name, such as Karthan and Kartthar.

In the medieval period, the KARTHA surname gained prominence among certain influential families and individuals. For instance, Kartha Pillai (1712-1786), a renowned scholar and administrator from the Kingdom of Travancore, played a crucial role in the administrative reforms and cultural revival of the region during the 18th century.

Another notable figure was Kartha Narayanan Nair (1854-1920), a social reformer and activist from Kerala, who actively campaigned for the rights and upliftment of the Nair community. He was a prominent figure in the Nair Service Society, a socio-cultural organization established in the 19th century.

The KARTHA surname has also been associated with various place names and localities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For example, Karthapuram, a village in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, is believed to have derived its name from the KARTHA community residing there.

Among other notable individuals with the KARTHA surname are:

1. Kartha Viswanathan (1862-1932), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and educator from Tamil Nadu.
2. Kartha Pillai (1870-1949), a prominent lawyer and political activist from the Travancore region of Kerala.
3. Kartha Krishnan Nair (1892-1976), a famous playwright and literary figure from Kerala.
4. Kartha Kunhikuttan Nair (1905-1975), a renowned poet and writer from Kerala, known for his contributions to Malayalam literature.
5. Kartha Krishnan Palat (1927-2007), a celebrated Malayalam novelist and short story writer from Kerala.

The KARTHA surname continues to be prevalent among various communities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, reflecting its deep-rooted history and cultural significance in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kartha

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

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

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

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