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

Rampersad, 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 Rampersad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rampersad in America

Rampersad is the 17734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rampersad surname appeared 1,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rampersad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rampersad 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 Rampersad

The surname Rampersad originated in India, likely derived from a combination of two Sanskrit words, "Ramaprasad" or "Ramprasad," meaning "servant of Lord Rama." This name is commonly found among Hindus, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

The earliest known recorded instances of this surname date back to the 16th century, appearing in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable mention is found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century.

During the British colonial era in India, many individuals with the surname Rampersad migrated to various parts of the British Empire, including the Caribbean islands, South Africa, and Fiji. This diaspora contributed to the widespread distribution of the name globally.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rampersad was Rampersad Tewari (1680-1756), a renowned Hindu scholar and philosopher from Varanasi, India, who authored several influential works on Vedanta and Hindu philosophy.

Another notable figure was Rampersad Bissoondyal (1811-1889), a prominent Indian indentured laborer who played a significant role in the establishment of the Indian community in Mauritius during the 19th century.

In the literary world, Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (1932-2018), better known as V.S. Naipaul, was a renowned Trinidadian-British writer and Nobel Laureate in Literature. His given name, Vidiadhar Surajprasad, is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit name Rampersad.

Another notable figure was Rampersad Motilal (1904-1988), a Guyanese politician and trade unionist who played a pivotal role in the labor movement and the struggle for independence in British Guiana (now Guyana).

In more recent times, Rampersad Sewnundun (1928-2016) was a distinguished Mauritian politician and author, known for his contributions to the literary and political spheres of Mauritius.

While the surname Rampersad is predominantly found in Indian and diasporic communities, its historical significance and widespread dispersal have made it a name with a rich cultural heritage spanning continents and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rampersad

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

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

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

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