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

Maharjan, 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 Maharjan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maharjan in America

Maharjan is the 36695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maharjan surname appeared 609 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 Maharjan.

The history of the last name Maharjan

The surname Maharjan originates from Nepal, tracing its roots back to the ancient Newa community of the Kathmandu Valley. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mahar," which means "great" or "noble," and the Newari word "Jana," meaning "people" or "community." Hence, Maharjan can be interpreted as "the great people" or "the noble community."

In the early days, the Maharjan surname was closely associated with the ruling class and nobility of the Newa community. Many historical records and manuscripts from the Malla era (12th-18th century) mention individuals with the Maharjan surname holding prominent positions in the government and society.

One of the earliest known references to the Maharjan name can be found in the Bhaktapur Itihas, a historical chronicle of the ancient city of Bhaktapur, which dates back to the 16th century. The document mentions a prominent figure named Amatya Maharjan, who served as the chief minister to the Malla kings.

During the 17th century, a notable figure named Ranajit Maharjan played a significant role in the construction of the iconic Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is renowned for its intricate architecture and is considered one of the finest examples of Newa craftsmanship.

In the late 18th century, a Maharjan named Kaji Maharjan was a renowned military leader who fought against the Gorkha invasion of the Kathmandu Valley. His bravery and leadership were celebrated in various oral traditions and folk tales of the time.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was Satyamohan Maharjan, a renowned poet and writer who contributed significantly to the literary and cultural renaissance of the Newa community. His works, such as the epic poem "Bhuktaman," are considered literary masterpieces and are still widely studied and appreciated.

In more recent times, Pushpa Lal Maharjan, born in 1928, was a prominent Nepali scholar and linguist who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Newari language and culture. His contributions to the study of Newari linguistics and literature are widely recognized.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals with the Maharjan surname who have made significant contributions to the history, culture, and legacy of the Newa community and Nepal as a whole.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maharjan

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

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

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

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