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

Naik, 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 Naik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naik in America

Naik is the 10528th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naik surname appeared 3,047 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Naik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naik 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 Naik

The surname NAIK originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Marathi language spoken in Maharashtra and surrounding regions. The word "naik" has its roots in the Sanskrit word "nayaka," meaning leader or chief. It was originally a title bestowed upon military commanders, village heads, or prominent individuals in positions of authority during ancient and medieval times.

The earliest recorded instances of the NAIK surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was used to denote the rank of a military officer or leader in various princely states and kingdoms across India. The name is closely associated with the Maratha Empire, which ruled a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent from the 17th to the early 19th century.

Notable historical figures bearing the NAIK surname include Tanhaji Naik (c. 1598 - 1670), a revered Maratha military leader known for his valor and strategic brilliance. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj. Another prominent figure was Baji Prabhu Deshpande Naik (c. 1615 - 1660), a legendary Maratha military commander who sacrificed his life in a battle against the Mughal forces.

The NAIK surname is also associated with various place names in Maharashtra, such as Naik Vadi, Naik Nagar, and Naik Pada, reflecting the influence and presence of individuals holding this title in those regions. The name has evolved over time, with variations in spelling, including Naique, Nayak, and Nayak.

Some other notable individuals with the NAIK surname throughout history include:

1. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883 - 1966), a prominent Indian revolutionary, freedom fighter, and political leader.
2. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918 - 1999), the ninth President of India from 1992 to 1997.
3. Harihar Naik (1925 - 2005), an Indian novelist and playwright known for his works in the Konkani language.
4. Raghunath Naik (1845 - 1921), a renowned Marathi poet and social reformer.
5. Sudhir Naik (born 1955), an Indian cricketer who represented the national team in the 1980s.

The NAIK surname continues to hold significance in various regions of India, particularly in Maharashtra, where it is deeply rooted in history and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naik

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

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

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

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