2000
#14,604
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,869
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.69
Rare Last name
Paras
A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "paraśu," meaning "axe" or "hatchet."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,584 Americans carry the last name Paras. That puts it at #13,027 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 132,645 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Paras surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.6K
1 in 132,645
Census rank
#13,027
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,253 bearers of the surname Paras in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13027th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Paras, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 54.3%. The next largest groups are White (30.4%) and Hispanic (9.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Paras
The surname "PARAS" has its origins in India, with its roots likely tracing back to the Sanskrit language. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 9th to 12th centuries.
One theory suggests that the name "PARAS" is derived from the Sanskrit word "parasu," which means "axe" or "battle-axe." This could indicate that the name was initially associated with individuals who were skilled in wielding axes, possibly warriors or soldiers.
Another possible origin of the name "PARAS" is its connection to the Sanskrit word "paras," which means "supreme" or "excellent." This could imply that the name was given to individuals who exhibited exceptional qualities or achievements.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname "PARAS" can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata. However, the exact dates of these mentions are difficult to pinpoint due to the extensive span of time over which these texts were composed.
One notable individual bearing the surname "PARAS" was Pandit Paras Ram, a renowned Hindu philosopher and scholar who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his insightful writings on Vedanta philosophy and his contributions to the religious and intellectual discourse of his time.
In the realm of literature, Paras Nath Pandit was a celebrated poet and writer from the 18th century. His works, including the epic poem "Geet Govind," are regarded as significant contributions to the Hindi literary canon.
During the 19th century, Paras Ram Shastri, a renowned scholar and linguist, made significant contributions to the study of Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts. His translations and commentaries on various Hindu scriptures are still widely referenced today.
In the field of military service, General Paras Nath Singh was a distinguished Indian Army officer who served during the 20th century. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was awarded the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his exceptional service.
Another notable figure with the surname "PARAS" was Swami Paras Anand, a respected spiritual leader and social reformer who lived in the late 20th century. He founded several educational institutions and worked tirelessly to promote education and social upliftment in various parts of India.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname "PARAS" who have left their mark on various aspects of Indian history and culture over the centuries. The name's origins and associations with excellence, valor, and spirituality have contributed to its enduring significance across generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Paras
Among Census respondents with the surname Paras, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 54.3%. The next largest groups are White (30.4%) and Hispanic (9.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Paras bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Paras surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander54.3% · 1,224
- White30.4% · 685
- Hispanic or Latino9.2% · 207
- Two or more races4.8% · 108
- Black or African American1.2% · 28
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Paras
Paras appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#12,566
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,463
+594 bearers (+31.8%)
Per 100,000 0.83
Rank movement Up 2,038 places
2020
#13,027
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,253
-210 bearers (-8.5%)
Per 100,000 0.75
Rank movement Down 461 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,604 | 1,869 | 0.69 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #12,566 | 2,463 | 0.83 | +594 bearers (+31.8%) | Up 2,038 places |
| 2020 | #13,027 | 2,253 | 0.75 | -210 bearers (-8.5%) | Down 461 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Paras surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,566 | #13,027 | -3.7% |
| Count | 2,463 | 2,253 | -8.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.83 | 0.75 | -9.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Paras bearers went from 2,463 to 2,253 (-8.5% change). The surname moved down 461 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,566 to #13,027.
FAQ
Paras surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Paras?
Name Census estimates that about 2,584 living Americans carry the surname Paras. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 132,645 residents.
How common is Paras?
Paras ranks #13,027 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,253 people with the surname Paras. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,584), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.75 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.75 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Paras.
Has Paras become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Paras went from 2,463 recorded bearers to 2,253. That is a decrease of 210 (-8.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #12,566 to #13,027.
What does the Census say about the background of Paras?
Among Census respondents with the surname Paras, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 54.3%. The next largest groups are White (30.4%) and Hispanic (9.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Paras in the 2020 Census, accounting for 54.3% (1,224 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Paras appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (54.3%), White (30.4%), Hispanic (9.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Paras (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Paras mean?
A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "paraśu," meaning "axe" or "hatchet." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Paras (0.75 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Paras?
Find out how common the surname Paras is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.