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

Limbu, 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 Limbu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Limbu in America

Limbu is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Limbu surname appeared 153 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 Limbu.

The history of the last name Limbu

The surname LIMBU is of Nepalese origin, originating from the Limbu people, an indigenous ethnic group of the Himalayan mountains in eastern Nepal. The Limbu people have a distinct language and cultural traditions, with their ancestral homeland being the Himalayan hills and valleys of the Kirat region.

The name LIMBU is believed to have derived from the Tibetan word "Lim-bu," which means "paper makers." This is a reference to the Limbu people's traditional expertise in the art of handmade paper-making from the bark of the Daphne plant, a skill that has been passed down for generations.

Historical records of the LIMBU name can be traced back to the 7th century, when the Limbu people were mentioned in ancient Nepalese manuscripts and chronicles. The Limbus played a significant role in the formation of the medieval Kirat kingdom, which ruled over parts of present-day eastern Nepal and northern West Bengal.

One of the earliest known references to the LIMBU surname can be found in the "Kirat Mundhum," a collection of ancient Limbu oral traditions and mythological narratives, which dates back to the 13th century. The text mentions several prominent LIMBU figures, such as Sirijunga LIMBU, a legendary warrior and leader.

Over the centuries, the LIMBU name has been associated with various notable individuals, including:

1. Subarna Shumsher LIMBU (1837-1914), a prominent military leader and governor in the Nepalese army during the late 19th century.
2. Phalgunanda LIMBU (1884-1964), a renowned poet, writer, and social reformer who played a crucial role in the preservation of Limbu language and literature.
3. Angdamba LIMBU (1905-1976), a pioneering woman leader and activist who fought for the rights and empowerment of the Limbu community.
4. Sangha Ratna LIMBU (1918-2001), a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who made significant contributions to the study and propagation of Nepalese Buddhist philosophy.
5. Pasang LIMBU (1952-present), a renowned mountain guide and mountaineer who has summited Mount Everest multiple times.

The LIMBU surname has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations in eastern Nepal, such as Limbuwan, a region considered the traditional homeland of the Limbu people, and the town of Limbudin in Panchthar district.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Limbu

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

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

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

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