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

Karunakaran, 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 Karunakaran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karunakaran in America

Karunakaran is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karunakaran surname appeared 216 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 Karunakaran.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karunakaran 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 Karunakaran

The surname KARUNAKARAN originates from the Indian subcontinent, with roots that can be traced back to ancient Tamil Nadu. It is derived from the Tamil words "Karuna," meaning compassion or kindness, and "Karan," which signifies a person or doer. The name's linguistic origins suggest that it was initially bestowed upon individuals renowned for their empathy and benevolent deeds.

In the annals of Indian history, the earliest recorded instances of the KARUNAKARAN surname can be found in ancient Tamil literature, particularly in the revered Sangam era texts dating back to the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. These literary works often celebrated the virtues of compassion and kindness, values deeply ingrained in the region's cultural ethos.

One of the earliest notable figures bearing the KARUNAKARAN surname was Karuna Karunakaran, a celebrated Tamil poet and scholar who lived during the 9th century CE. His poetic works, infused with profound insights and empathetic narratives, have been widely celebrated and studied throughout the centuries.

The KARUNAKARAN surname also found prominence in the medieval era, with several individuals leaving an indelible mark on the region's history. Notably, Sundara Karunakaran, a prominent ruler in the Pandya Kingdom during the 13th century, was renowned for his compassionate governance and commitment to the welfare of his subjects.

In the modern era, the KARUNAKARAN surname has continued to carry its legacy of compassion and influence. K. Karunakaran, a prominent Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Kerala, was born in 1918 and served as a pivotal figure in shaping the state's socio-political landscape throughout the latter half of the 20th century. His dedication to uplifting marginalized communities and promoting social justice earned him widespread respect and admiration.

Another notable figure was M.G. Karunakaran, an acclaimed Indian actor and playwright who was born in 1928. His contributions to the Tamil film industry and theater were widely recognized, and he left an indelible mark with his portrayal of empathetic and thought-provoking characters.

Dr. Karunakaran Nair, born in 1949, was a pioneering medical researcher who made significant contributions to the field of cancer treatment. His groundbreaking work on developing targeted therapies for various types of cancer has impacted countless lives worldwide.

The KARUNAKARAN surname, with its rich history and profound meaning, continues to carry the essence of compassion and kindness, serving as a reminder of the enduring values that have shaped the cultural fabric of the Indian subcontinent for millennia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karunakaran

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

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

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