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

Sunkara, 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 Sunkara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sunkara in America

Sunkara is the 40494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sunkara surname appeared 540 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 Sunkara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sunkara 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 Sunkara

The surname Sunkara originates from South India, specifically the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th-16th century CE. The name is derived from the Telugu words "Sunka" meaning gold and "Ara" meaning terminal or boundary, signifying someone living at the edge of a gold mine or a goldsmith.

The earliest recorded references to the Sunkara name can be traced back to several inscriptions and manuscripts from the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled a significant part of southern India from the 14th to 17th centuries. One such inscription, found in the Lepakshi temple complex in Andhra Pradesh, mentions a certain "Sunkarayya" who served as a high-ranking official in the empire's administration.

In the 17th century, the Sunkara family gained prominence as influential landlords and chieftains in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. They were known for their patronage of arts, literature, and architecture. Notably, Sunkara Venkata Krishnama Nayudu (1660-1720), a wealthy landlord and philanthropist, commissioned the construction of several temples and public works in the region.

During the British colonial period in India, the Sunkaras continued to play a significant role in the social and political spheres. Sunkara Papayya Naidu (1825-1895), a prominent landowner and philanthropist, was actively involved in the Indian independence movement and supported various social reform initiatives.

Another notable figure from the Sunkara family was Sunkara Satyanarayana (1890-1976), a renowned Telugu writer and poet who authored several literary works, including the celebrated novel "Sringariki Sravanthi". He was awarded the prestigious Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honor, in 1970.

In more recent times, Sunkara Vijayamma (1926-2005) was a prominent politician and social activist from Andhra Pradesh. She served as a member of the Indian Parliament and was actively involved in women's empowerment and rural development initiatives.

The Sunkara name has also gained recognition in other fields, such as medicine and business. Sunkara Balasubramanian (1935-2010) was a renowned cardiologist who made significant contributions to the field of cardiac surgery in India.

While the Sunkara surname has its roots in South India, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even abroad, as members of the community have migrated and settled in different regions over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sunkara

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

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

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

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