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

Ranasinghe, 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 Ranasinghe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ranasinghe in America

Ranasinghe is the 66164th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ranasinghe surname appeared 299 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 Ranasinghe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ranasinghe 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 Ranasinghe

The surname RANASINGHE is of Sri Lankan origin, deriving from the Sinhala language spoken in the island nation. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th to 15th centuries CE. The name is a compound word, with "Rana" meaning "battle" or "war" and "Singhe" meaning "lion," thus translating to "War Lion" or "Battle Lion."

The name is thought to have originated from the central and southern regions of Sri Lanka, where the Sinhala language and culture have been predominant for centuries. It is possible that the surname was initially bestowed upon warriors or military leaders who displayed exceptional bravery and valor on the battlefield, likening them to fierce lions in combat.

Historical records of the name RANASINGHE can be found in ancient inscriptions, stone carvings, and manuscripts from the Kandyan Kingdom, which ruled parts of Sri Lanka from the late 15th century until the early 19th century. Several notable individuals bearing this surname have been documented in these sources, though exact birth and death dates are often unclear.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ranasinghe Dissawa, a military commander who served under King Vimaladharmasuriya I in the late 15th century. He played a crucial role in defending the Kandyan Kingdom against Portuguese invasions during that era.

Another prominent figure was Ranasinghe Bandara, a high-ranking courtier and advisor to King Vimaladharmasuriya II in the 16th century. He was known for his diplomatic skills and helped navigate complex political relationships with neighboring kingdoms.

In the 17th century, Ranasinghe Yapa was a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who authored several influential texts on Theravada Buddhist philosophy and doctrine. His works were widely studied and revered in Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia.

During the 18th century, Ranasinghe Mudaliyar was a respected administrator and civil servant in the Kandyan Kingdom. He was responsible for overseeing various administrative regions and ensuring the efficient governance of the kingdom.

In more recent history, Sir Ranasinghe Premadasa (1924-1993) was a prominent Sri Lankan politician who served as the third President of Sri Lanka from 1989 until his assassination in 1993. He played a significant role in the country's political landscape and implemented several economic and social reforms during his tenure.

While the surname RANASINGHE has its roots in medieval Sri Lanka, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the island nation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ranasinghe

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

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

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

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