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

Mani, 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 Mani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mani in America

Mani is the 13690th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mani surname appeared 2,212 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 Mani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mani 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 Mani

The surname MANI originated in India, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "mani," which means "jewel" or "gem." The name likely emerged as a descriptor for individuals who worked with precious stones or were associated with the jewelry trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MANI can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a character. This suggests that the name was in use during the time when the epic was composed, which is believed to be between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE.

During the medieval period, the name MANI gained prominence in South India, particularly in the regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was associated with influential families and individuals who played significant roles in the cultural, religious, and political spheres.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname MANI was Mani Vavunravandu Pillai (1590-1655), a renowned Tamil scholar and poet from the Nayak Dynasty period. His works, including the epic poem "Tembavani," contributed significantly to the development of Tamil literature.

Another prominent individual with the surname MANI was Mani Iyer (1677-1744), a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Kerala. He made significant contributions to the field of Indian astronomy and authored several treatises on the subject.

In the 19th century, the name MANI gained recognition in the field of Indian classical music. Mani Iyer (1853-1921), a renowned Carnatic vocalist and composer, hailed from a family of musicians and left a lasting impact on the music tradition of South India.

The surname MANI is also associated with place names in India. For example, Manikhera is a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh, while Manikpur is a town in the state of Madhya Pradesh. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the surname MANI who settled in those areas.

Throughout history, the surname MANI has been carried by numerous individuals across various fields, including literature, arts, science, and politics. While the name has its roots in India, it has also gained recognition and prominence in other parts of the world, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and global influence of Indian names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mani

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

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

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

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