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

Om, 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 Om surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Om in America

Om is the 29947th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Om surname appeared 784 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 Om.

We can also compare 2010 data for Om 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 Om

The surname "Om" is of Indian origin and traces its roots back to ancient Sanskrit. It is believed to have originated from the sacred syllable "Om," which holds immense spiritual and philosophical significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and various Indian traditions.

The word "Om" is considered a primordial sound, representing the vibration of the universe and the essence of all existence. It is often chanted during meditation, prayers, and spiritual practices, symbolizing the union of the individual self with the ultimate reality or divine consciousness.

In ancient Sanskrit texts, such as the Upanishads and the Vedas, the syllable "Om" is revered as a sacred mantra and is associated with various deities and cosmic principles. It is believed to be the source of all other sounds and words, and its utterance is said to invoke profound spiritual experiences and enlightenment.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Om" can be traced back to ancient India, where it was likely adopted by individuals or families associated with spiritual practices, religious orders, or philosophical traditions that revered the sacred syllable.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname "Om" was Swami Om Prakash Tiwari, a renowned spiritual leader and founder of the Chetna Andolan movement in India, born in 1944. He dedicated his life to promoting self-awareness and inner transformation through meditation and spiritual practices.

Another prominent individual was Omkar Nath Sharma, a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who lived from 1932 to 1994. He made significant contributions to the study of Indian philosophy, particularly in the fields of Vedanta and Yoga.

In the realm of literature, Om Prakash Bhatnagar, born in 1925, was a celebrated Hindi poet and writer whose works explored themes of spirituality, social justice, and human experiences.

The name "Om" has also been associated with places and geographical locations in India. For instance, Omkareshwar, a town in Madhya Pradesh, is known for its ancient temples and is considered a sacred pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva, where the sacred syllable "Om" is revered.

Additionally, the surname "Om" has been carried by individuals across various fields, including politics, arts, and academia, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and influences of those who have embraced the spiritual and cultural significance of this ancient Sanskrit syllable.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Om

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

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

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

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