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

Rajah, 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 Rajah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rajah in America

Rajah is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rajah surname appeared 203 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 Rajah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rajah 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 Rajah

The surname Rajah is derived from the Sanskrit word "raja" which translates to "king" or "ruler." It originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions now known as India and Pakistan. The name can be traced back to ancient times when kings and nobles bore titles such as "raja" or "rajah."

The earliest known use of the surname Rajah dates back to the medieval period, around the 11th century. It is believed that some individuals who held positions of power or were associated with royalty adopted the title "Rajah" as their surname. This practice was common among the ruling classes and aristocracy in various regions of the Indian subcontinent.

In historical records, the surname Rajah appears in several ancient texts and manuscripts documenting royal lineages and court chronicles. One notable mention can be found in the Akbarnama, a 16th-century biography of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, where several individuals with the surname Rajah are listed as courtiers and officials.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rajah was Raja Ram Rajah, a prominent scholar and poet who lived in the 15th century. He is known for his works in Sanskrit literature and his contributions to the philosophical and literary traditions of his time.

Another notable figure was Raja Todar Mal Rajah, a distinguished finance minister and one of the nine jewels (Navaratnas) in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is credited with implementing significant administrative reforms and establishing an efficient revenue collection system during the 16th century.

In the 18th century, Raja Ravi Varma Rajah was a renowned artist and painter who is celebrated for his contributions to the Indian art renaissance. His realistic depictions of mythological and historical scenes have left a lasting impact on the artistic traditions of India.

The surname Rajah has also been associated with several place names, such as Rajahpur, Rajahganj, and Rajahbari, which were named after local rulers or individuals bearing the title "Rajah."

Throughout history, the surname Rajah has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including rulers, nobles, scholars, artists, and individuals who held positions of power and influence. While the name originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other regions through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rajah

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

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

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

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