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

Ra, 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 Ra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ra in America

Ra is the 18793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ra surname appeared 1,458 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 Ra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ra 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.

The history of the last name Ra

The surname "Ra" is believed to have originated in India, particularly in the regions of Punjab and Haryana. Its roots can be traced back to the Sanskrit language, where it was derived from the word "rā," meaning "sun" or "king."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Ra" can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, where it was often associated with the solar deity, Surya. In these texts, the name was sometimes used as an epithet or title for prominent individuals or deities.

During the medieval period, the name "Ra" gained prominence in various parts of India, particularly among the ruling classes and warrior castes. It was often used as a surname or honorific title, signifying strength, power, and leadership.

In the 16th century, records from the Mughal Empire mention several individuals with the surname "Ra," including Raja Ram Ra, a prominent military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Additionally, historical accounts mention a poet named Kavi Ra, who lived during the reign of Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century.

The name "Ra" has also been associated with various place names in India, such as Rajasthan (meaning "the land of kings") and Rayalaseema (derived from the Telugu words "Rayalu" and "Seema," meaning "the territory of kings").

Notable individuals with the surname "Ra" throughout history include:

1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ra (1780-1839), the founder of the Sikh Empire and a prominent ruler in the Punjab region.
2. Swami Vivekananda Ra (1863-1902), a renowned Hindu philosopher and spiritual leader who introduced the teachings of Vedanta to the West.
3. Raja Rao Ra (1908-2006), a distinguished Indian writer and novelist, known for his works like "Kanthapura" and "The Serpent and the Rope."
4. Laxmi Narayan Ra (1924-2011), an eminent Indian mathematician and educator, known for his contributions to the field of algebra.
5. Kiran Rao Ra (born 1973), an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, known for her work in films like "Dhobi Ghat" and "Laal Singh Chaddha."

While the surname "Ra" has its roots in India, it has also been adopted by individuals from various other cultures and regions, reflecting the rich diversity and migration patterns of human civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ra

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

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 Ra 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ra has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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