Find out how popular the last name Prem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Prem.
An Indian surname, deriving from the Sanskrit word meaning "love" or "passion".
Prem, 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 Prem surname is from the 2010 census data.
Prem is the 43369th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Prem surname appeared 498 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 Prem.
We can also compare 2010 data for Prem 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 | 43369 | 47939 | -10.01% |
| Count | 498 | 415 | 18.18% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.15 | 12.50% |
The surname Prem has its origins in India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "prem," which means love or affection. This name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who was known for their loving or affectionate nature.
In ancient India, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or place names. The name Prem would have been given to individuals who displayed qualities of love and kindness, or perhaps as a mark of respect for someone who embodied these virtues.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Prem can be found in the Puranas, a collection of ancient Hindu texts dating back to the 4th century CE. These texts mention several individuals with the name Prem, indicating that it was already in use during this time period.
Another early reference to the name Prem can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian chronicle written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions a courtier named Prem Chand, suggesting that the name was in use among the nobility and upper classes of that era.
In the 18th century, there are records of a renowned poet and scholar named Prem Nath, who authored several works in Sanskrit and Persian. He was born in the city of Varanasi in 1720 and is considered one of the most influential literary figures of his time.
During the 19th century, the name Prem gained prominence in the Indian independence movement. One notable figure was Prem Chand Tara, a freedom fighter and social reformer who fought against British rule in the early 1900s. He was born in 1875 and played a significant role in the struggle for Indian independence.
Another influential person with the surname Prem was Prem Nath Bazaz, a Kashmiri leader and writer who advocated for the rights of the Kashmiri people. He was born in 1905 and wrote extensively on the political and social issues facing Kashmir during the mid-20th century.
Throughout history, the surname Prem has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, freedom fighters, and social reformers. While it originated as a descriptive term, the name has come to represent values of love, affection, and kindness that have been embodied by many notable figures bearing this surname.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Prem.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Prem was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 61.45% | 306 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 29.52% | 147 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 3.21% | 16 |
| Hispanic Origin | 5.62% | 28 |
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 Prem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 61.45% | 68.43% | -10.75% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 29.52% | 20.24% | 37.30% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 3.21% | 4.58% | -35.17% |
| Hispanic | 5.62% | 6.02% | -6.87% |
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 Prem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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