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

Maurya, 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 Maurya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maurya in America

Maurya is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maurya surname appeared 128 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 Maurya.

The history of the last name Maurya

The surname Maurya finds its origins in ancient India, with its earliest known references dating back to the 4th century BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Maurya," which was the dynastic name of the imperial rulers of the Maurya Empire, one of the largest and most influential empires in ancient Indian history.

The Maurya Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE and ruled over a vast territory spanning from modern-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. The most notable ruler of the Maurya dynasty was Ashoka the Great, who reigned from 268 to 232 BCE and is renowned for his policies of nonviolence, religious tolerance, and effective administration.

The surname Maurya is closely associated with the Kshatriya caste, the warrior and ruling class of the Indian caste system. It is widely believed that the surname originated among the descendants of the Maurya rulers or those who claimed lineage from this illustrious dynasty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Maurya surname can be found in the Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, written by Kautilya, the chief minister of Chandragupta Maurya's court.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Maurya, including:

1. Ashoka Maurya (304-232 BCE), the legendary emperor of the Maurya Empire, known for his embrace of Buddhism and his rock edicts promoting ethical principles and religious tolerance.

2. Samrat Chandragupta Maurya (340-298 BCE), the founder of the Maurya Empire and the first emperor to unify most of the Indian subcontinent.

3. Bindusara Maurya (320-272 BCE), the son and successor of Chandragupta Maurya, who extended the empire's territory further into the Deccan region.

4. Raghuvir Maurya (1524-1593), a renowned warrior and chieftain from the Maurya clan, who played a significant role in the struggle against the Mughal Empire.

5. Ishwari Prasad Maurya (1900-1950), an Indian independence activist and member of the Constituent Assembly of India, who played a crucial role in shaping the nation's constitution.

The surname Maurya continues to be prevalent in various parts of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, where the Maurya Empire once held sway. Its historical significance and association with one of India's most influential dynasties have bestowed a sense of pride and prestige upon those bearing this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maurya

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

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

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

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