Parkash last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Parkash

A surname of Indian origin meaning light or illumination.

Parkash, 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 Parkash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parkash in America

Parkash is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parkash surname appeared 165 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 Parkash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parkash 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 107669 148244 -31.71%
Count 165 102 47.19%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.04 40.00%

The history of the last name Parkash

The surname Parkash traces its origins to the Indian subcontinent, where it has been in use for centuries. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Prakash," which means "light" or "illumination." This connection to the concept of enlightenment and knowledge has imbued the name with a sense of reverence and respect.

Historically, the name Parkash has been prevalent among the Hindu and Sikh communities in the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to have been adopted as a surname during the medieval period, when surnames became more widespread in Indian society.

Manuscripts and historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries mention individuals bearing the surname Parkash, often in association with scholarly or religious pursuits. One notable example is Bhai Santokh Singh Parkash (1787-1843), a renowned Sikh scholar and poet who authored the iconic work "Sri Gur Nanak Parkash," a biographical account of the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Another prominent figure was Pandit Ratan Nath Parkash (1841-1919), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author from Uttar Pradesh. His contributions to the study of ancient Indian texts and literature earned him widespread recognition and respect.

In the realm of literature, the name Parkash has been associated with several accomplished writers and poets. One such figure was Amrita Parkash (1913-1988), a celebrated Punjabi novelist and short story writer whose works explored themes of social injustice and female empowerment.

The name Parkash has also been carried by notable figures in the field of politics and activism. Giani Zail Singh Parkash (1916-1994), an influential politician from Punjab, served as the seventh President of India from 1982 to 1987, leaving a lasting impact on the nation's political landscape.

Throughout its history, the surname Parkash has maintained its connection to the values of knowledge, enlightenment, and intellectual pursuits. Its roots in the ancient Sanskrit language and its associations with scholarly and literary figures have contributed to its enduring significance within Indian culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parkash

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

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 Parkash was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.64% 6
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 93.33% 154
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Parkash has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.64% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 93.33% 84.31% 10.16%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% 9.80% -200.00%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (S)%

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

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

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"Parkash last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/parkash-surname-popularity/.

"Parkash last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/parkash-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Parkash last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/parkash-surname-popularity/.

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