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

Ranganath, 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 Ranganath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ranganath in America

Ranganath is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ranganath surname appeared 152 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 Ranganath.

The history of the last name Ranganath

The surname Ranganath has its origins in India, tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language. It is a compound word derived from 'Ranga' meaning 'stage' or 'arena', and 'Nath' meaning 'lord' or 'master'. Thus, the name carries the connotation of one who is the master of the stage or arena, possibly referring to a skilled performer, orator, or warrior.

The earliest known references to the name Ranganath can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and epics, where it was often used as a title or epithet for deities or revered individuals. In particular, it is closely associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, who is sometimes referred to as Ranganath or Ranganathaswamy, the lord of the celestial stage.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ranganath was the 12th-century Hindu philosopher and saint, Sri Ranganathananda, who hailed from the town of Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. He was a renowned scholar and proponent of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, which reveres Lord Vishnu as the supreme deity.

In the 16th century, the name Ranganath gained prominence in the court of the Vijayanagar Empire, where it was borne by several influential advisors and ministers. One notable figure was Ranganath Nayak, a commander in the army of the Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya, who played a significant role in the empire's military campaigns.

During the Mughal era in India, the Ranganath family held prominent positions in the administrative and cultural spheres. Ranganath Pandit, a renowned scholar and poet, served as a minister in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late 16th century.

In more recent history, the name Ranganath has been associated with several distinguished individuals in various fields. Ranganath Misra, born in 1926, was the Chief Justice of India from 1990 to 1991, and played a crucial role in upholding the country's constitutional principles.

Another notable figure was Ranganath Krishnamurthy Laxman, better known as R.K. Laxman, who was born in 1921 and passed away in 2015. He was a legendary Indian cartoonist and creator of the iconic comic strip "The Common Man", which satirized the everyday struggles and experiences of ordinary Indians.

The surname Ranganath continues to be prevalent in various parts of India, particularly in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, where it has deep cultural and historical roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ranganath

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

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 Ranganath 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.

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

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

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