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

Punia, 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 Punia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Punia in America

Punia is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Punia surname appeared 127 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 Punia.

The history of the last name Punia

The surname Punia is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern regions of India and Pakistan. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "punja," which means "cluster" or "bundle," and it is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name for people who lived in a densely populated area or worked with bundles of goods.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Punia can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions dating back to the 5th century CE. One of the earliest known historical figures to bear this surname was Punia Brahmadatta, a renowned scholar and poet who lived during the Gupta Empire in the 4th-5th century CE.

During the medieval period, the Punia surname gained prominence among various communities, particularly among the Khatri and Bania trading communities of northwestern India and present-day Pakistan. Some historical records mention Punia merchants and traders who traveled along the Silk Road, facilitating trade between India and Central Asia.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Punia Bhagat Mal was a prominent Khatri merchant and philanthropist who established several educational institutions and charitable foundations in the region of present-day Rajasthan, India.

Another noteworthy individual was Punia Lachman Das, a renowned poet and writer from the 18th century who authored several literary works in Braj Bhasha, a literary language derived from Hindi and spoken in the Braj region of northern India.

In the 19th century, Punia Nanak Chand was a prominent reformer and social activist who advocated for the rights of the underprivileged communities in Punjab, British India. He is remembered for his efforts in establishing schools and promoting education among the masses.

Throughout history, the Punia surname has also been associated with various place names in India, such as Punia Khera, a village in the Rewari district of Haryana, and Punia Mandi, a town in the Rupnagar district of Punjab.

While the Punia surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the name remains most prevalent in India, Pakistan, and regions with significant populations of South Asian descent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Punia

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

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

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

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