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

Naga, 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 Naga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naga in America

Naga is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naga surname appeared 145 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 Naga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naga 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 Naga

The surname NAGA has its origins in India, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "naga," which means "snake" or "serpent." The name is closely associated with the Naga tribes, who inhabit parts of northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar.

In Hindu mythology, the Nagas are depicted as semi-divine beings, often taking the form of serpents or snake-like creatures. They are revered as protectors of water sources, such as rivers, lakes, and underground springs. The name NAGA may have been initially adopted by individuals or communities living near water bodies or associated with serpent worship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NAGA can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned in the context of the Naga kingdom and its rulers. The Naga people and their traditions have also been referenced in various other Hindu scriptures and historical texts.

In the medieval period, the NAGA surname gained prominence among the ruling dynasties of the Naga Hills region, which is now part of the Indian states of Nagaland and Manipur. Prominent figures from this era include King Naga Sadhu (born around 1250 CE), who ruled over the Naga kingdom of Mawaza, and Queen Naga Lila (born around 1320 CE), known for her diplomatic skills and efforts to maintain peace among the Naga tribes.

As the Naga people migrated and settled in different parts of India and beyond, the surname NAGA spread across various regions. Notable individuals bearing this name include:

1. Naga Vamana (born around 1450 CE), a renowned scholar and philosopher from the Vijayanagara Empire in southern India.
2. Naga Rama (born around 1620 CE), a celebrated poet and playwright from the Nayak dynasty of Madurai.
3. Naga Bhushanam (1842-1917), a social reformer and advocate for women's education in the princely state of Hyderabad.
4. Naga Mallika (1892-1978), a prominent freedom fighter and activist from the Indian independence movement.
5. Naga Phukan (1915-2002), a distinguished writer and journalist from Assam, known for his contributions to Assamese literature.

The NAGA surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Nagapattinam (a town in Tamil Nadu), Nagapur (a city in Maharashtra), and Nagapuram (a village in Andhra Pradesh), among others. These places may have been named after individuals or communities bearing the NAGA surname or in reference to the symbolic significance of serpents or water bodies in the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naga

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

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

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

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