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

Nath, 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 Nath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nath in America

Nath is the 12127th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nath surname appeared 2,570 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 Nath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nath 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 Nath

The surname Nath has its origins in India, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "natha," which means "lord" or "protector." The name is believed to have originated among the Brahmin caste in the northern and central regions of the subcontinent.

One of the earliest documented references to the Nath surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The work mentions several individuals with the surname Nath who held positions of authority during the reign of Akbar.

In the 17th century, the Nath surname appeared in various local records and historical documents from the region now known as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Some notable individuals from this period include Pandit Gokul Nath (1600-1680), a renowned scholar and poet, and Swami Vishnu Nath (1635-1710), a revered spiritual leader.

During the 18th century, the Nath surname gained prominence in the region of Bengal, where several families with this name held influential positions in local administration and society. One such figure was Raja Ram Nath (1720-1785), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who funded the construction of several temples and educational institutions.

In the 19th century, the Nath surname continued to be well-represented among the educated and professional classes in various parts of India. Notable individuals from this period include Lala Shyam Nath (1810-1875), a prominent social reformer and educationist, and Sir Ganesh Nath (1850-1920), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

As India entered the modern era, the Nath surname continued to be associated with achievements in various fields. Some notable figures include Dr. Radha Nath (1890-1970), a pioneering scientist who made significant contributions to the field of plant genetics, and Govind Nath (1915-1992), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional and modern styles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nath

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

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

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

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