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

Khara, 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 Khara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khara in America

Khara is the 108199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khara surname appeared 164 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 Khara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Khara 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 Khara

The surname KHARA originated in the region of Punjab, in northern India and eastern Pakistan, during the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "khara," meaning "rough" or "harsh," possibly referring to a person's physical appearance or temperament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KHARA can be found in the Mughal-era historical text "Akbarnama," written in the late 16th century, which mentions a nobleman named Khara Khan. This suggests that the name was already in use among the nobility and elite classes during that time.

In the 17th century, a prominent Sikh warrior named Bhai Khara Singh (1624-1675) was known for his bravery and loyalty to Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh Guru. He played a crucial role in defending the Sikh community against the Mughal forces and is celebrated as a martyr in Sikh history.

During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname KHARA was Rai Khara Singh (1715-1783), a powerful landlord and chieftain in the region of Lahore. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts in consolidating power and territory in the aftermath of the declining Mughal Empire.

In the 19th century, the name KHARA appeared in the British colonial records of Punjab, with mention of a village called Khara Mangat, located in the present-day Ludhiana district of Punjab, India. This village may have been named after a local landowner or prominent figure with the surname KHARA.

Another significant person with the surname KHARA was Khara Singh Duggal (1835-1913), a influential Sikh leader and reformist who advocated for social and educational reforms within the Sikh community. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Singh Sabha movement, which aimed to revive and preserve Sikh traditions and values.

While the surname KHARA has its origins in the Punjab region, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots and significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of northern India and eastern Pakistan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khara

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

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

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

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