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

Panda, 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 Panda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Panda in America

Panda is the 29041st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Panda surname appeared 817 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 Panda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Panda 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 Panda

The surname Panda has its origins in India, where it is believed to have first emerged in the 16th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "pandu," which means "pale" or "white." This name was likely given to individuals with a light complexion or those who had a pale appearance.

In the early days, the name was primarily found in the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It was often associated with the Brahmin caste, which was considered the highest caste in the Hindu social hierarchy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Panda can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document compiled during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. This document served as an administrative manual and provided detailed information about the empire, including lists of officials and their respective roles.

Over time, the name spread to other parts of India as people migrated and settled in different regions. In the 17th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Panda residing in the city of Varanasi, a major religious and cultural center in northern India.

One notable individual with the surname Panda was Pandit Vishnu Panda, a renowned scholar and astrologer who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his extensive knowledge of Hindu scriptures and his contributions to the field of astrology.

Another significant figure was Raja Rajendra Panda, a ruler of the princely state of Talcher in present-day Odisha. He ruled from 1786 to 1812 and was known for his efforts in promoting education and cultural activities within his kingdom.

In the 19th century, the name Panda gained prominence with the birth of Govind Ballabh Pant Panda, a prominent Indian freedom fighter and politician. He was born in 1887 and played a crucial role in India's struggle for independence from British rule.

Towards the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, the surname Panda became more widespread across India. Individuals with this name could be found in various professions, including academia, politics, and the arts.

One notable example is Rajkumar Panda, a celebrated artist and sculptor from Odisha, known for his contributions to the field of modern Indian art. He was born in 1923 and his works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Panda

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

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

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

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