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

Liyanage, 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 Liyanage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Liyanage in America

Liyanage is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Liyanage surname appeared 226 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 Liyanage.

The history of the last name Liyanage

The surname Liyanage originates from Sri Lanka and is believed to have emerged during the 14th century. It is derived from the Sinhala language, with "Liya" meaning "inscription" or "writing" and "nage" referring to a person or individual. The name likely referred to scribes, writers, or individuals skilled in calligraphy and documentation.

Records from the Gampola period (1341-1408) in Sri Lankan history mention individuals with the surname Liyanage, particularly in connection with administrative roles and literary works. The name has been found in ancient palm-leaf manuscripts and stone inscriptions from that era.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Liyanage is Siriwardana Liyanage, a renowned scribe and poet who lived during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu V (1372-1408). His literary works, including the "Saddharmaratnavaliya," have been influential in preserving Sinhala literary traditions.

Another notable figure is Jayawickrama Liyanage, a 15th-century scholar and advisor to King Parakramabahu VI (1412-1467). He is credited with translating several Sanskrit texts into Sinhala, contributing to the preservation of ancient knowledge.

In the 16th century, Vidyaratna Liyanage was a prominent writer and scholar who authored several works on grammar, poetry, and Buddhist philosophy. His "Siyabaslakara" is considered a seminal text on Sinhala grammar and poetics.

During the 17th century, Rajaguru Liyanage served as the chief advisor and spiritual mentor to King Rajasinghe II (1635-1687). He played a crucial role in the preservation of Buddhist teachings and the propagation of Sinhala literature during the Kandyan Kingdom.

In the 19th century, Ananda Liyanage (1834-1898) was a renowned scholar and translator who worked on translating English works into Sinhala. His contributions helped bridge cultural gaps and facilitate the exchange of knowledge between Sri Lanka and the West.

Throughout history, the surname Liyanage has been associated with literary excellence, scholarship, and the preservation of Sinhala cultural heritage. While the name has evolved in its spelling and usage over time, its connection to the tradition of writing and education remains a defining characteristic.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Liyanage

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!