Nagin last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Nagin

A surname potentially derived from the Sanskrit word "naga," meaning serpent or snake.

Nagin, 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 Nagin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nagin in America

Nagin is the 85357th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nagin surname appeared 219 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 Nagin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nagin 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 85357 79115 7.59%
Count 219 224 -2.26%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.08 -13.33%

The history of the last name Nagin

The surname NAGIN originated in India and is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "naga," which means "serpent" or "snake." The name is primarily associated with the Naga people, an ethnic group found in northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar.

The Nagas are known for their rich cultural heritage, which includes intricate traditional clothing, unique architectural styles, and a deep reverence for nature and serpents. The serpent holds a significant place in Naga mythology and folklore, often symbolizing strength, fertility, and rebirth.

One of the earliest known references to the NAGIN surname can be found in ancient Indian texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, which mention the Naga tribes and their connections to serpent worship. These texts date back to several centuries BCE.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer, documented his encounters with the Naga people during his travels through the region. He described them as skilled warriors and noted their unique customs and traditions.

Some notable individuals with the surname NAGIN include:

  1. Angami Nagin (c. 1850 - 1920), a renowned Naga warrior and chieftain from the Angami tribe, known for his bravery and leadership during conflicts with the British colonial forces.

  2. Lhingmok Nagin (1888 - 1972), a prominent Naga scholar and writer who contributed significantly to preserving the Naga language and culture through his literary works.

  3. Khriena Nagin (1910 - 1995), a pioneering Naga woman who played a crucial role in the establishment of modern education systems in the region, founding several schools and advocating for women's empowerment.

  4. Isak Nagin (1924 - 2016), a renowned Naga artist and sculptor, renowned for his intricate wood carvings and depictions of traditional Naga life and mythology.

  5. Rani Nagin (born 1978), a contemporary Naga fashion designer and entrepreneur, known for incorporating traditional Naga motifs and designs into modern clothing.

The NAGIN surname has also been associated with various place names in northeastern India, such as Nagin Village, Nagin Hill, and Nagin River, reflecting the strong connection between the Naga people and their ancestral lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nagin

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

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 Nagin was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 61.19% 134
Non-Hispanic Black Only 9.59% 21
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 20.09% 44
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.57% 10
Hispanic Origin 4.57% 10

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 61.19% 72.32% -16.67%
Black 9.59% 10.27% -6.85%
Asian and Pacific Islander 20.09% 11.61% 53.50%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 4.57% 3.57% 24.57%
Hispanic 4.57% 2.23% 68.82%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Nagin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/nagin-surname-popularity/.

"Nagin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/nagin-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 May, 2025

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

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