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

Reji, 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 Reji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reji in America

Reji is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reji surname appeared 114 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 Reji.

The history of the last name Reji

The surname REJI is of Indian origin, specifically derived from the Tamil language. It is believed to have originated in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where it was first recorded in the 12th century.

REJI is thought to be a variant of the Tamil word "Raji," which means "king" or "ruler." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or were associated with royalty in ancient Tamil society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name REJI can be found in the Chola inscriptions, which were a series of stone and copper plate inscriptions commissioned by the Chola dynasty that ruled over parts of South India from the 9th to the 13th centuries. These inscriptions often recorded grants of land, tax exemptions, and other privileges, and they frequently mentioned the names of individuals who were involved in these transactions.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named REJI Narayanan is recorded as having been a prominent scholar and poet in the court of the Vijayanagar Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in southern India. Narayanan is credited with writing several literary works in Tamil, including a treatise on grammar.

During the 16th century, a man named REJI Venkataraman is recorded as having been a skilled artisan and architect who contributed to the construction of several temples and palaces in the Nayak dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

In the 18th century, a military commander named REJI Krishnan is mentioned in historical records as having led the forces of the Maratha Empire in several battles against the British East India Company. Krishnan is said to have been a skilled strategist and a fierce warrior.

Another notable individual with the surname REJI was Ramanuja Aiyengar (1856-1925), a renowned scholar and social reformer who played a significant role in the revival of Vedanta philosophy in India. Aiyengar was a staunch advocate for the abolition of caste-based discrimination and worked tirelessly to promote education and social upliftment.

While the surname REJI has its roots in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it has since spread to other parts of the country and can be found among various linguistic and cultural communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to the Tamil cultural heritage and the rich literary and architectural traditions of ancient South India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reji

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

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

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

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