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

Ranjan, 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 Ranjan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ranjan in America

Ranjan is the 40976th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ranjan surname appeared 532 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 Ranjan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ranjan 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 Ranjan

The surname Ranjan originated in India, specifically in the eastern regions of Bihar and West Bengal. It can be traced back to the 12th century or earlier, during the rule of the Pala Empire in the Indian subcontinent. Ranjan is derived from the Sanskrit word "ranjana," which means "to delight" or "to color."

One of the earliest records of the surname Ranjan appears in the Pala inscriptions, where it was used to refer to individuals who were involved in artistic pursuits, such as painting or dyeing textiles. The name may have been bestowed upon skilled artisans who were known for their ability to create vibrant and delightful colors or designs.

In the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, there is a reference to a character named Ranjan, who was a skilled archer and warrior. This could indicate that the name was also associated with strength and bravery in ancient times.

The surname Ranjan can be found in various historical manuscripts and records from the medieval period in India, particularly in the regions of Bengal and Bihar. One notable bearer of this name was Ranjan Sen (1561-1625), a renowned Bengali poet and scholar who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical topics.

Another famous person with the surname Ranjan was Ranjan Chanda (1878-1936), a Bengali writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was a close associate of Rabindranath Tagore and contributed to the literary and political spheres of his time.

In the 20th century, Ranjan Mukherjee (1910-1988) was a prominent Indian painter and sculptor who was associated with the Bengal School of Art. His works are celebrated for their depiction of traditional Indian themes and his unique style of blending traditional and modern elements.

The surname Ranjan has also been found in other parts of India, such as the state of Punjab, where it was associated with the Khatri community. One notable bearer of this name from Punjab was Ranjan Singh (1917-1993), a renowned Indian classical vocalist who was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

While the surname Ranjan has its roots in eastern India, it has spread across the country and can be found among various communities and regions, each with their own unique stories and associations with the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ranjan

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

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

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

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