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

Nanda, 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 Nanda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nanda in America

Nanda is the 23054th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nanda surname appeared 1,109 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 Nanda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nanda 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 Nanda

The surname Nanda has its roots in India, originating from the Sanskrit language. It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the medieval period, around the 6th to 12th centuries CE. Nanda was initially a title or honorific, derived from the Sanskrit word "nanda," which means joy, happiness, or delight.

The name Nanda was particularly prevalent in the northern and eastern regions of India, such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. It was commonly associated with the Nanda Dynasty, one of the earliest dynasties of ancient India, which ruled the region around modern-day Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh from around 424 BCE to 321 BCE.

Historical records mention several notable figures bearing the surname Nanda. One of the earliest known individuals was Nanda Bahadur, a 16th-century military leader and ruler of the Nanda kingdom in present-day Nepal. He played a significant role in establishing the Nanda dynasty's influence in the region.

Another prominent figure was Nanda Devi, a revered Hindu goddess and one of the seven principal summits of the Garhwal Himalayan range in Uttarakhand, India. The mountain, standing at an elevation of 7,816 meters (25,643 feet), is considered sacred and has been a site of pilgrimage for centuries.

In the literary realm, Nanda Lal Nanda (1857-1923) was a renowned scholar, writer, and poet from Bengal, India. He made significant contributions to Bengali literature and is remembered for his works such as "Nanda Babu's Diary" and "Nanda Babu's Adventures."

Nanda Kumar Nanda (1918-2005) was an Indian historian and academic who specialized in the history of ancient India. He authored several books, including "The Inadequacy of Myth in Indian Literature" and "The Mauryas Revisited."

Lastly, Nanda Devi Giri (1923-2011) was a notable Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was widely acclaimed for her contributions to the revival and promotion of Odissi dance, one of the eight classical dance forms of India.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Nanda throughout history, highlighting its rich cultural and historical significance within the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nanda

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

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

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

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