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

Rana, 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 Rana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rana in America

Rana is the 4923rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rana surname appeared 7,145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rana 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 Rana

The surname RANA originated in India, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "rana," which means "warrior" or "soldier." The name is particularly prevalent in the northern regions of India, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab.

One of the earliest known references to the name RANA can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which mentions a warrior named Rana Pratap Singh, who fought against the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. The name gained prominence during the reign of the Rajput rulers, who were known for their bravery and military prowess.

In the 12th century, the RANA surname was associated with the ruling dynasty of Mewar, a region in present-day Rajasthan. The most notable figure from this lineage was Maharana Pratap Singh (1540-1597), a renowned Rajput ruler who led the resistance against the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Another notable individual with the surname RANA was Raja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the founder of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab region. He was known for his military campaigns and his efforts to unite the Sikh kingdoms under his rule.

The RANA surname has also been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts, such as the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative manual commissioned by Emperor Akbar, which mentions the name in connection with the Rajput rulers.

Other notable individuals with the RANA surname include:

1. Kavi Rana (14th century), a renowned poet and scholar from Gujarat.
2. Rana Sanga (1484-1528), a Rajput warrior and ruler of the Mewar kingdom, who fought against the Mughal Empire.
3. Rana Bhim Singh (1778-1823), a Rajput ruler of the princely state of Jaipur.
4. Rana Hamir Singh (1472-1528), a Rajput ruler of the Rathore clan, who fought against the Mughal Empire.
5. Rana Udai Singh II (1537-1572), a Rajput ruler of Mewar, known for his architectural contributions, including the construction of the Udai Vilas Palace.

The RANA surname has a rich history and is deeply rooted in the martial traditions of India, particularly among the Rajput warriors and rulers. Its association with bravery, nobility, and military prowess has made it a prominent surname in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rana

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

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

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

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