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

Raghunathan, 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 Raghunathan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raghunathan in America

Raghunathan is the 62359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raghunathan surname appeared 321 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 Raghunathan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raghunathan 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 Raghunathan

The surname Raghunathan originates from the Indian subcontinent and has its roots in the Sanskrit language. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, particularly in the southern regions of India.

The name Raghunathan is a compound word derived from two Sanskrit words: 'Raghu,' which refers to a distinguished lineage or dynasty, and 'Nath,' meaning lord or master. Together, the name signifies 'Lord of the Raghu dynasty,' which was a celebrated royal lineage in ancient Indian history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Raghunathan can be found in the epic Sanskrit poem 'Raghuvamsa,' composed by the renowned poet Kalidasa in the 5th century CE. This work chronicles the genealogy and exploits of the Raghu dynasty, providing a historical context for the name's origin.

In the 11th century, the celebrated Tamil philosopher and spiritual leader, Raghunatha Siromani, was a prominent figure who bore this surname. He was renowned for his contributions to the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and his commentaries on ancient scriptures.

During the 16th century, the name Raghunathan gained prominence in the southern Indian kingdom of Vijayanagar. Records from this period mention a notable scholar and administrator named Raghunatha Nayaka, who served as a minister in the court of King Krishnadevaraya.

In the 18th century, Raghunath Rao, a distinguished military leader and statesman, played a significant role in the Maratha Empire. He served as the Peshwa (prime minister) and helped expand the empire's territories through his strategic campaigns.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Raghunathan was Sir Kodandera Madunantha Raghunatha Nayaka, a 19th-century Indian philanthropist and statesman from the erstwhile princely state of Mysore. He was known for his charitable initiatives and contributions to education and social welfare.

Over the centuries, the name Raghunathan has been associated with various place names in India, such as Raghunathpur, Raghunathganj, and Raghunathpalli, reflecting the influence and presence of individuals or families with this surname in those regions.

While the origins of the name Raghunathan can be traced back to ancient India, it continues to be a widely used surname among various linguistic and cultural communities across the subcontinent, carrying a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raghunathan

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

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

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

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