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

Nanan, 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 Nanan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nanan in America

Nanan is the 73666th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nanan surname appeared 263 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 Nanan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nanan 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 Nanan

The surname NANAN is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern region of modern-day India and Sri Lanka. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "nana," which means "grandfather" or "elder." This suggests that the name may have been used as a term of respect or endearment for elders or ancestors in ancient times.

Historically, the NANAN surname has been found in various ancient texts and records from the region, including the Tamil literary works of the Sangam period (circa 300 BCE to 300 CE). Some scholars believe that the name may have been associated with certain families or clans in the region during this time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NANAN surname can be traced back to the 8th century CE, when a scholar and poet named Nanan Pillai is mentioned in the Manimekhalai, a Tamil Buddhist epic. Pillai is a title that was often added to the names of respected scholars and learned individuals in ancient Tamil society.

In the 12th century, a renowned philosopher and scholar named Nanan Sivacharya lived in the Chola kingdom, located in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. Sivacharya was a prominent figure in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism and is credited with writing several influential works on Shaivite philosophy and theology.

During the 16th century, a powerful ruler named Nanan Kon Aditha Nayaka governed the Madurai Nayak kingdom in southern India. Nayaka was a title used by feudal lords and chieftains in the region, indicating that the NANAN surname may have been associated with nobility or ruling classes at the time.

In Sri Lanka, the NANAN surname has been documented among the Tamil population since ancient times. One notable figure was Nanan Kumarakulasinghe, a 17th-century Tamil poet and scholar who authored several literary works, including the Nananvili, a collection of poems and prose.

While the NANAN surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world, primarily through migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and connection to the region's rich cultural heritage remain deeply embedded in its origins and evolution over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nanan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!