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

Ratana, 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 Ratana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ratana in America

Ratana is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ratana surname appeared 118 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 Ratana.

The history of the last name Ratana

The surname RATANA has its origins in India, deriving from the Sanskrit word 'ratna' meaning 'jewel' or 'gem'. It is believed to have first emerged as a surname in the southern states of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, during the medieval period around the 13th-14th centuries.

In ancient Tamil literature, the name RATANA is mentioned as a title bestowed upon individuals of high rank and nobility, often referring to their esteemed status as 'jewels' within the social hierarchy. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Chola inscriptions from the 11th century, where it was used to refer to high-ranking officials and courtiers.

As the name spread across India, it gained popularity among various communities and was adopted by individuals from different regions and cultural backgrounds. One notable bearer of the RATANA surname was Satya Narayana RATANA, a renowned Telugu poet and scholar who lived in the 16th century and authored several works on philosophy and spirituality.

During the British colonial era, the RATANA surname was further disseminated across the subcontinent and beyond as individuals migrated to other parts of the world. In the late 19th century, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the renowned leader of the Indian independence movement, had a close associate named Kallenbach RATANA, a German-Jewish architect who played a significant role in the development of the Phoenix Settlement in Natal, South Africa.

Another notable figure with the RATANA surname was Maharshi Dayanand RATANA, a Hindu philosopher and social reformer from the 19th century, who founded the Arya Samaj movement and advocated for a return to the Vedic teachings and traditions. He was born in 1824 in Gujarat and passed away in 1883, leaving behind a legacy of promoting education and social reform.

In the 20th century, Sri RATANA, a spiritual leader and philosopher from Sri Lanka, gained widespread recognition for his teachings on non-violence and compassion. He was born in 1892 and dedicated his life to promoting peace and harmony among all religions and communities.

Throughout its history, the RATANA surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from poets and scholars to spiritual leaders and social reformers, all united by their shared connection to the ancient Sanskrit word 'ratna', symbolizing their esteemed status as 'jewels' within their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ratana

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

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

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

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