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

Tara, 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 Tara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tara in America

Tara is the 40082nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tara surname appeared 547 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 Tara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tara 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 Tara

The surname Tara has its origins in India, where it is believed to have originated as a place name. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "tara," which means "star" or "tree." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to ancient Indian texts and manuscripts.

In Hindu mythology, Tara is the name of a goddess who is revered as the embodiment of compassion and liberation. The name is also associated with the Tara Hills, a mountain range located in the state of Maharashtra, India. This region was historically known as Taramandala, which translates to "the land of Tara."

The surname Tara has been used by various communities and castes in India, including Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Tara Chand, a prominent Indian scholar and philosopher who lived during the 18th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of Hindu philosophy and his works on the Vedas.

Outside of India, the surname Tara has also been found in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Indian ancestry or connections. In the United States, for example, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tara can be traced back to Dhanpat Rai Tara, an Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another notable figure with the surname Tara was Chandra Tara Devidayal, an Indian independence activist and social reformer who played a significant role in the struggle for India's freedom from British rule. He was born in 1835 and was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress.

Other historical figures bearing the surname Tara include Raghunath Tara, an Indian revolutionary who participated in the Indian rebellion of 1857, and Tara Sundari Devi, a renowned Bengali poet and writer who lived in the 19th century and contributed significantly to the literary renaissance of Bengal.

While the surname Tara has its roots in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Indian civilization, where it held significant cultural and mythological significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tara

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

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

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

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