Shankar
A surname of Indian origin, derived from Sanskrit, meaning "one who brings about prosperity or grants wishes."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,468 Americans carry the last name Shankar. That puts it at #14,111 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 138,879 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Shankar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 138,879
Census rank
#14,111
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,130 bearers of the surname Shankar in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14111th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Shankar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and White (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Shankar
The surname "SHANKAR" originated in India and can be traced back to the 6th century CE. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "shanka" meaning "conch shell" and "ra" meaning "giver" or "bestower," suggesting a connection to the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu, who is often depicted holding a conch shell.
The name first appeared in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was found in a 7th-century inscription from the Chalukya dynasty, which ruled in parts of present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
In the 12th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of the renowned philosopher and Hindu reformer, Shankaracharya (788-820 CE), who revived the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy and established several monastic orders across India.
During the Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1646 CE), the name was associated with scholars, poets, and artists who made significant contributions to Hindu literature and culture. One notable figure was the 16th-century poet and composer, Shankaradeva (1449-1568 CE), who played a crucial role in the cultural renaissance of Assam.
In the 18th century, the Maratha Empire saw the rise of Shankaraji Narayan Bhatt (1716-1778 CE), a prominent statesman and administrator who served as the Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha confederacy.
Other notable individuals with the surname "SHANKAR" include the 20th-century Indian musician and composer, Ravi Shankar (1920-2012 CE), who popularized Indian classical music worldwide, and the contemporary Indian spiritual leader and motivational speaker, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (born 1956 CE), founder of the Art of Living Foundation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Shankar
Among Census respondents with the surname Shankar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and White (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Shankar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Shankar surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander89.0%
- Two or more races5.5%
- White3.5%
- Hispanic or Latino0.9%
- Black or African American0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Shankar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,111 | #14,111 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,130 | 2,130 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Shankar bearers went from 2,130 to 2,130 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #14,111 to #14,111.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Shankar
FAQ
Shankar surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Shankar?
The surname Shankar holds position #14,111 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,468 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Shankar surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Shankar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and White (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.