Rattana last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Rattana

A surname originating from Thailand meaning "precious gem" or "ruby".

Rattana, 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 Rattana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rattana in America

Rattana is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rattana surname appeared 213 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 Rattana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rattana 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 87335 100663 -14.18%
Count 213 166 24.80%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name Rattana

The surname RATTANA has its origins in the Thai language and culture. It is believed to have originated in central Thailand, particularly in the regions around Bangkok and surrounding provinces, during the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767 CE).

RATTANA is derived from the Sanskrit word "ratna," which means "gem" or "jewel." In Thai, the word "rattana" carries a similar connotation and is often used as a prefix or suffix in names to convey a sense of preciousness or value. This linguistic connection suggests that the surname RATTANA may have been originally associated with individuals or families of high social standing or those who worked with precious stones or jewelry.

While there are no definitive historical records detailing the earliest uses of the surname RATTANA, it is likely that it emerged as a hereditary name during the Ayutthaya period, when the practice of adopting surnames became more widespread in Thai society. The name may have initially been used as a descriptor or honorific before evolving into a hereditary surname over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname RATTANA was Somdet Phra Rattana Trai, a renowned Buddhist monk who lived in the late 17th century and served as the Supreme Patriarch of the Thai Sangha during the reign of King Narai the Great (1656-1688). His influential teachings and writings on Buddhist philosophy and meditation contributed significantly to the religious and intellectual life of Ayutthaya.

Another notable figure was Phraya Rattana Sombat (1683-1756), a high-ranking nobleman and military leader who served under King Borommakot of Ayutthaya. He played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against Burmese invasions and is remembered for his bravery and strategic acumen.

In the 19th century, Chao Phraya Rattana Buri (1787-1854) was a prominent figure who served as the Governor of Rattana Buri Province (now known as Ratchaburi Province) during the reign of King Rama III. He was instrumental in the development and administration of the region, and his name is reflected in the province's name.

During the early 20th century, Luang Rattana Khiri (1875-1945) was a renowned architect and engineer who played a significant role in the modernization of Bangkok's infrastructure. He designed and oversaw the construction of several iconic structures, including the Memorial Bridge and the Rama VI Bridge across the Chao Phraya River.

More recently, Rattana Bundit (1946-2022) was a celebrated Thai artist and sculptor known for her unique contemporary art style that blended traditional Thai elements with modern techniques. Her works have been exhibited internationally and are celebrated for their intricate details and exploration of cultural identity.

These examples illustrate the longstanding presence and prominence of the surname RATTANA in Thai history, spanning various fields such as religion, military, governance, architecture, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rattana

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

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 Rattana was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 2.35% 5
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 92.96% 198
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.29% 7

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 Rattana has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 2.35% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 92.96% 93.98% -1.09%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 4.22% (S)%
Hispanic 3.29% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rattana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rattana-surname-popularity/.

"Rattana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rattana-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Rattana last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rattana-surname-popularity/.

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