Modha last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Modha

A Gujarati surname originating from a village of the same name in India.

Modha, 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 Modha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Modha in America

Modha is the 92358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Modha surname appeared 199 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 Modha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Modha 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 92358 118236 -24.58%
Count 199 136 37.61%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.05 33.33%

The history of the last name Modha

The surname MODHA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Gujarat. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Moda," which means happiness or joy. It is possible that the name was originally given to someone who possessed a cheerful or joyful disposition.

One of the earliest documented references to the name MODHA can be found in the Navaratri inscriptions from the 11th century, which record the names of various individuals associated with the local rulers of the time. These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region during that period.

During the 14th century, the MODHA name appeared in several historical records related to the Solanki dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan. These records often listed individuals with the MODHA surname as landowners, merchants, or administrators within the kingdom.

The name MODHA gained further prominence in the 16th century when Rana Modha, a prominent military leader and advisor to the Rajput rulers, played a significant role in the resistance against the Mughal Empire. Rana Modha's bravery and strategic acumen were widely celebrated, and his descendants continued to carry the MODHA surname with pride.

Throughout the centuries, the MODHA name has been associated with various notable figures. In the 17th century, Naranji Modha was a renowned poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the Gujarati literary tradition. His works explored themes of spirituality, love, and the human condition.

In the 19th century, Dayaram Modha was a respected social reformer and educator who worked tirelessly to promote education and uplift marginalized communities in Gujarat. His efforts led to the establishment of several schools and educational institutions, which continue to shape the lives of countless students to this day.

Another notable figure bearing the MODHA surname was Manibhai Modha, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century. He founded several successful businesses and used his wealth to support various charitable causes, including the construction of hospitals and educational facilities in his native region.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname MODHA. While the name has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carrying with it a legacy of cultural diversity, resilience, and achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Modha

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

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 Modha was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 94.47% 188
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.02% 6
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Modha has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% 5.15% (S)%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 94.47% 88.24% 6.82%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 3.02% 6.62% -74.69%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (S)%

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

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

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"Modha last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/modha-surname-popularity/.

"Modha last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/modha-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Modha last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/modha-surname-popularity/.

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