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

Mahajan, 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 Mahajan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mahajan in America

Mahajan is the 16130th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mahajan surname appeared 1,794 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mahajan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mahajan 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 Mahajan

The surname Mahajan has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of present-day India and Pakistan. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mahat," which means "great" or "eminent," and the suffix "-jan," meaning "born" or "descended from." Thus, Mahajan can be interpreted as "one who is descended from greatness."

The earliest recorded instances of the Mahajan surname can be traced back to the 12th century, during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate. The name is closely associated with the Khatri community, a prominent trading and mercantile group that played a significant role in the economic and cultural life of the region.

In ancient times, the Mahajans were often recognized as wealthy merchants, bankers, and financiers. Their influence and prosperity were evident in the historical records of various kingdoms and empires that ruled over the Indian subcontinent, including the Mughal Empire and the Maratha Confederacy.

One of the earliest known figures with the Mahajan surname was Gokuldas Mahajan, a prominent merchant and banker who lived in the 16th century during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is credited with establishing a successful trade network across the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Another notable Mahajan was Sahu Ram Mahajan, a wealthy banker and philanthropist who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his generous endowments towards educational institutions and religious establishments, contributing to the cultural and social development of his time.

In the realm of literature, the Punjabi poet and writer Amrita Pritam Mahajan (1919-2005) was a celebrated figure. Her powerful works, which often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earned her numerous accolades, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor.

Kalpana Mahajan (1956-2021), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, was renowned for her contributions to the Odissi dance form. Her performances and teachings garnered international acclaim, and she was recognized with prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

In the field of sports, Ajay Mahajan (born 1968) was a prominent Indian cricketer who represented his country in Test and One Day International matches during the 1990s. He was known for his all-round abilities as a right-arm medium-fast bowler and a hard-hitting lower-order batsman.

The Mahajan surname has also been associated with various place names throughout the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the widespread presence and influence of this community over the centuries. Examples include the town of Mahajan in Punjab, Pakistan, and the Mahajan Gali neighborhood in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mahajan

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

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

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

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