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

Tana, 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 Tana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tana in America

Tana is the 75317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tana surname appeared 256 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 Tana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tana 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 Tana

The surname Tana has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name Tana is derived from the Sanskrit word "tana," which means "body" or "frame." It may have initially been used as a descriptive surname, referring to a person's physical build or stature. Some scholars also suggest that it could be linked to the word "tantra," referring to an ancient Hindu tradition or system of practices.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Tana can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This work contains records of various individuals with the surname Tana, indicating its presence in that era.

In the 17th century, the name Tana appeared in the records of the East India Company, which had established trading posts in the region. Some notable individuals bearing the surname Tana were merchants or administrators associated with the company during that time.

One prominent figure in history with the surname Tana was Raja Tana Singh (c. 1720-1789), a ruler of the princely state of Gohad in central India. He was known for his military campaigns and for his patronage of art and architecture.

Another individual of note was Rani Tana Bai (c. 1675-1700), a Queen consort of the Maratha Empire who played a crucial role in the succession of her son, Shahu I, to the throne. Her name is mentioned in various historical accounts and chronicles of the Maratha period.

In the 19th century, Tana Malviya (1832-1891) was a prominent Indian social reformer and educationist. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and advocating for the upliftment of women's education.

The surname Tana has also been found in historical records from regions like Gujarat and Rajasthan in India, as well as in parts of modern-day Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab.

While the surname Tana is not as common as some other Indian surnames, it has a rich historical legacy, with numerous individuals bearing this name having left their mark across various fields, including politics, education, and cultural spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tana

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

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

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

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