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

Kush, 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 Kush surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kush in America

Kush is the 19242nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kush surname appeared 1,409 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 Kush.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kush 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 Kush

The surname KUSH is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Punjab. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "kusha," which refers to a type of sacred grass used in Hindu rituals and ceremonies. This grass, also known as "darbha" or "kusha grass," has held significant cultural and religious importance in the region for centuries.

The earliest known usage of the surname KUSH can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical records and documents from the Mughal Empire. It is likely that individuals or families involved in the cultivation or trading of kusha grass adopted the surname as a way to identify their occupation or association with this sacred plant.

One notable historical reference to the name KUSH can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. This document mentions several individuals with the surname KUSH holding various positions within the empire's bureaucracy and administration.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the KUSH surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Some examples of notable individuals with this surname from this period include Kush Ram (1670-1738), a renowned poet and scholar from the Mughal Empire, and Kush Singh (1720-1782), a military commander who served under the Maratha Empire.

As the British colonial rule expanded in India during the 19th century, the KUSH surname became more widely documented in official records and census data. One prominent figure from this era was Kush Kumar (1845-1910), a social reformer and educator who played a significant role in promoting education and women's rights in the region.

In the 20th century, the KUSH surname continued to be associated with various professions and fields, including academia, politics, and the arts. Some notable individuals include Kush Lal (1905-1985), a renowned linguist and scholar of Sanskrit literature, and Kush Mehta (1920-2003), a celebrated Indian classical musician and composer.

While the KUSH surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Today, individuals with the surname KUSH can be found in various countries, carrying forward the cultural and historical significance of this ancient name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kush

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

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

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

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