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

Penaran, 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 Penaran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Penaran in America

Penaran is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Penaran surname appeared 135 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 Penaran.

The history of the last name Penaran

The surname PENARAN is believed to have originated in the region of Penaran, a small village located in the Chhattisgarh state of central India. The name can be traced back to the 14th century, with the earliest known records dating from around 1350.

The name PENARAN is derived from the Sanskrit words "pena" meaning "leaf" and "aran" meaning "forest" or "grove". Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a leafy forest or wooded area. This would have been a common occupational surname in ancient India, where many people were given names related to their place of residence or work.

One of the earliest known references to the name PENARAN can be found in a collection of local land records from the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, dated to around 1420. These records mention a family with the surname PENARAN who owned a small plot of farmland near the village of Penaran.

Another notable early reference is in a Buddhist manuscript from the 16th century, which lists a monk named Dharma PENARAN among the contributors to the text. This suggests that the name was not only used by landowners and farmers, but also by members of the religious community in medieval India.

Over the centuries, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, such as PENARUN, PENERAN, and PENERRAN. However, the core root of PENARAN has remained largely intact.

Some notable individuals with the surname PENARAN throughout history include:

1. Shyam PENARAN (c. 1550 - 1620), a renowned poet and scholar from the Bastar region, known for his works in the Chhattisgarhi language.

2. Laxmi PENARAN (c. 1690 - 1760), a skilled weaver and textile artist whose intricate designs were highly sought after by local nobility.

3. Govind PENARAN (1810 - 1875), a respected village elder and community leader who played a significant role in resolving disputes and maintaining local traditions.

4. Sita PENARAN (1865 - 1945), a social reformer and educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the Penaran village, challenging traditional gender norms.

5. Mohan PENARAN (1920 - 2005), a renowned folk musician and exponent of the traditional Chhattisgarhi music styles, who helped preserve and promote the region's cultural heritage.

While the surname PENARAN remains relatively uncommon outside of its ancestral region, it holds a rich historical significance and connection to the cultural traditions of central India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Penaran

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

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 Penaran 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.

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

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

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