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

Rama, 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 Rama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rama in America

Rama is the 20627th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rama surname appeared 1,284 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 Rama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rama 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 Rama

The surname Rama has its origins in India, where it dates back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'rama', which means 'pleasing' or 'delightful'. The name is closely associated with the Hindu deity Lord Rama, the central figure of the epic Ramayana.

Rama is considered one of the most revered names in Hinduism and is believed to have been in use since the Vedic period, which spans from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. The name has been found in numerous ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions, including the Vedas, Puranas, and other sacred literature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rama can be found in the Ramayana itself, where it is mentioned as the name of the heroic prince who later became the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem that is believed to have been composed between the 5th and 4th centuries BCE.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Rama. One of the most famous was Rama VI, also known as King Vajiravudh or Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua, who ruled Siam (now Thailand) from 1910 to 1925. He was a prolific writer and poet and is credited with introducing many modernizations to Siam during his reign.

Another notable figure with the surname Rama was Rama Rao, an Indian film actor, director, and producer who was a prominent figure in the Telugu cinema industry. He was born in 1909 and passed away in 1983, leaving behind a legacy of over 180 films.

In the field of literature, Rama Sundri Autar was a renowned Indian poet and writer who lived in the 18th century. She is best known for her work 'Vidya Sundari', which is considered a masterpiece of Braj Bhasha literature.

The name Rama has also been associated with several places and locations. For example, Rama is the name of a town in Ontario, Canada, which was named after the Hindu deity. Similarly, Ramapur is a town in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which is believed to have been founded by Lord Rama during his exile.

In summary, the surname Rama is deeply rooted in Indian culture and mythology, with its origins dating back to ancient times. It has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including kings, actors, and writers, and is associated with various places and locations, reflecting its enduring significance and cultural importance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rama

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

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

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

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