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

Krishna, 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 Krishna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Krishna in America

Krishna is the 18793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Krishna surname appeared 1,458 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 Krishna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Krishna 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 Krishna

The surname KRISHNA has its origins in India, dating back to ancient times. It is a Hindu name derived from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," which means "dark, black, or blue." The name is associated with the Hindu deity Lord Krishna, one of the most popular and revered figures in Hinduism.

The name KRISHNA first appeared in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata. These texts mention Lord Krishna, who is believed to be an avatar (incarnation) of the Hindu god Vishnu. The name gained popularity among devotees and followers of Lord Krishna, who began using it as a surname.

In the 4th century BCE, the philosopher and grammarian Panini mentioned the name KRISHNA in his work, "Ashtadhyayi," a treatise on Sanskrit grammar. This is one of the earliest recorded instances of the name in written form.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname KRISHNA was the 16th-century Indian saint and philosopher, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533). He was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement and is considered an avatar of Lord Krishna by his followers.

Another notable individual with the surname KRISHNA was the 19th-century Indian philosopher and social reformer, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891). He was a prominent figure in the Bengal Renaissance and worked towards the abolition of the practice of Sati (widow burning) and the promotion of education for women.

In the 20th century, the surname KRISHNA gained international recognition through the work of the Indian spiritual leader and philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986). He was a renowned speaker and writer, and his teachings on self-awareness and the nature of consciousness were widely acclaimed.

The name KRISHNA has also been associated with several place names in India, such as Krishna District, Krishna River, and Krishnanagar. These place names were likely derived from the Hindu deity Lord Krishna, reflecting the cultural and religious significance of the name in the region.

Throughout history, the surname KRISHNA has been closely linked to Hindu culture, philosophy, and spirituality. It has been carried by numerous scholars, saints, and spiritual leaders, reflecting the deep-rooted tradition and reverence associated with this name in India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Krishna

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

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

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

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