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

Mohan, 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 Mohan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mohan in America

Mohan is the 5616th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mohan surname appeared 6,188 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Mohan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mohan 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 Mohan

The surname Mohan has its origins in India, where it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'moha,' which means enchantment, delusion, or infatuation. The name is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive epithet for someone who was perceived as being captivated or enthralled by worldly pursuits or pleasures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mohan can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, where it is mentioned as the name of a sage or rishi. This suggests that the name has its roots in Hindu mythology and religious traditions.

In the 12th century, the name Mohan appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Northern India. It is believed that the name gained popularity among certain communities and castes during this time.

The name Mohan has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most prominent individuals bearing this surname was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), the renowned Indian leader and advocate of non-violent civil disobedience, who played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence from British rule.

Another notable figure with the surname Mohan was Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the founder of the Sikh Empire and a celebrated ruler of the early 19th century. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to unify the Punjab region.

In the realm of literature, the Indian poet and writer Karoor Neelakanda Pillai (1712-1775), also known as Mohan Kavi, gained recognition for his works in the Malayalam language, which included the epic poem 'Bhagavadajjukam.'

The name Mohan has also been associated with various place names in India, such as Mohanpur, a town in West Bengal, and Mohangarh, a historical fort in Rajasthan. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname Mohan who were influential or prominent figures in those regions.

Another notable bearer of the surname Mohan was Jag Mohan (1916-2008), an Indian civil servant and politician who served as the Governor of several states in India, including Goa, Assam, and Gujarat.

While the surname Mohan has its roots in India and is primarily associated with the Indian subcontinent, it has also gained recognition and usage in other parts of the world, particularly among the Indian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mohan

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

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

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

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