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

Krishnamurthi, 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 Krishnamurthi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Krishnamurthi in America

Krishnamurthi is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Krishnamurthi surname appeared 141 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 Krishnamurthi.

The history of the last name Krishnamurthi

The surname Krishnamurthi has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is a compound name derived from the Sanskrit words "Krishna," which refers to the Hindu deity Krishna, and "murthi," meaning image or form. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries CE.

Krishnamurthi was initially a title or honorific bestowed upon individuals who were revered for their spiritual knowledge and devotion to Lord Krishna. It was often associated with temple priests, scholars, and those who played a significant role in the propagation of Hindu philosophy and culture. The name gained prominence among the Brahmin communities in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Krishnamurthi can be found in the inscriptions and manuscripts related to the Vijayanagar Empire, which ruled over parts of southern India from the 14th to the 17th century. These inscriptions often documented the names of prominent individuals, including scholars, priests, and administrators.

The name Krishnamurthi has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sri Krishnamurthi Aiyer (1856-1922), a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who played a significant role in the revival of Advaita Vedanta philosophy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another prominent figure was Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986), a renowned spiritual teacher and philosopher who gained international recognition for his teachings on self-transformation, freedom, and the dissolution of ego. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century.

In the field of literature, Krishnamurthi Sastri (1892-1953) was a highly acclaimed Tamil scholar, writer, and poet. He contributed significantly to the promotion of Tamil literature and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of the highest literary honors in India.

The name Krishnamurthi has also been associated with several places in southern India. For example, Krishnamurthinagar is a town in the Dharwad district of Karnataka, which was named after a prominent local figure with the surname Krishnamurthi.

While the surname Krishnamurthi has its roots in the southern regions of India, it has since spread to other parts of the country and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name retains its strong cultural and historical significance, reflecting the rich linguistic and spiritual heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Krishnamurthi

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

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

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

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