Prajapati
A Sanskrit surname referring to a divine progenitor or lord of all beings.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,200 Americans carry the last name Prajapati. That puts it at #24,352 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.35 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 285,629 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Prajapati surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.2K
1 in 285,629
Census rank
#24,352
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,029 bearers of the surname Prajapati in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.35 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 24352nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Prajapati, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.2%) and White (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Prajapati
The surname PRAJAPATI has its origins in India, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "pra" meaning "before" and "japat" meaning "to utter," referring to the Creator or Lord of all beings. The name is believed to have originated from the Hindu mythology, where Prajapati is considered the progenitor of all living beings.
In Hindu scriptures, Prajapati is described as the primordial deity responsible for the creation of the universe and the propagation of life. The name is often associated with the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are considered manifestations of the supreme Prajapati.
The earliest recorded use of the surname PRAJAPATI can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, where it is mentioned in various contexts related to creation and divine beings. It is also found in the epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata, which date back to around the 5th century BCE.
One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the surname PRAJAPATI was Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824-1883), a renowned Hindu philosopher and social reformer. He founded the Arya Samaj, a reformist movement that sought to revive the Vedic teachings and promote social equality.
Another prominent figure was Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), a celebrated spiritual leader and one of the most influential figures in the revival of Hinduism in modern times. He introduced the teachings of Vedanta to the Western world and played a significant role in promoting the concept of universal brotherhood.
In the field of science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Prajapati (1904-1984) was a notable Indian physicist and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of relativity and quantum mechanics and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Allahabad.
In the realm of literature, Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi (1855-1907), better known by his pen name "Govardhanram Prajapati," was a renowned Gujarati poet and writer. His works, such as "Narmakavita" and "Narmakatha," are considered masterpieces of Gujarati literature.
Another notable figure was Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya (1913-2003), a spiritual leader and founder of the Gayatri Pariwar movement. He advocated for the revival of Vedic teachings and promoted the practice of meditation and spiritual development.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname PRAJAPATI throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the Hindu tradition and its significance in various fields, including philosophy, spirituality, science, and literature.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Prajapati
Among Census respondents with the surname Prajapati, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.2%) and White (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Prajapati bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Prajapati surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander97.0%
- Two or more races1.2%
- White1.0%
- Hispanic or Latino0.5%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Prajapati surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49,869 | #24,352 | 51.2% |
| Count | 395 | 1,029 | 160.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.15 | 0.35 | 133.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Prajapati bearers went from 395 to 1,029 (+160.5% change). The surname moved up 25,517 positions in the national ranking, going from #49,869 to #24,352.
FAQ
Prajapati surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Prajapati?
The surname Prajapati holds position #24,352 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,200 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.35 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Prajapati surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Prajapati, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.2%) and White (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.