2000
#15,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,760
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.65
Rare Last name
Thakkar
A Gujarati occupational surname referring to a carpenter or wood carver.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,165 Americans carry the last name Thakkar. That puts it at #7,147 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.51 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 66,361 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Thakkar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Thakkar with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.2K
1 in 66,361
Census rank
#7,147
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,504 bearers of the surname Thakkar in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.51 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7147th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Thakkar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Thakkar
The surname "Thakkar" is of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Gujarat. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "thakkura," which means "master" or "lord." The name is associated with the Thakkar community, which traditionally belonged to the trading and business class.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Thakkar" can be traced back to the 12th century. During this time, the Thakkar community played a significant role in the trade and commerce of the region. They were involved in various business ventures, including textiles, spices, and precious stones.
One of the earliest known references to the surname "Thakkar" can be found in the inscriptions and manuscripts from the medieval period. These inscriptions often mention the names of prominent Thakkar merchants and their contributions to the local economy and cultural landscape.
In the 16th century, Shantidas Thakkar, a renowned scholar and poet, gained prominence for his literary works. His works, written in the Gujarati language, are still widely studied and appreciated today. Another notable figure from this era was Virji Vora Thakkar, a wealthy merchant who funded the construction of several temples and public buildings in the region.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Thakkar community continued to thrive in trade and commerce. Nathubhai Thakkar, a prominent businessman from the 18th century, was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributions to the development of the city of Ahmedabad.
In the 19th century, Ranchhodlal Chhotalal Thakkar (1819-1891) was a prominent entrepreneur and industrialist. He played a pivotal role in establishing the textile industry in Ahmedabad and is considered one of the pioneers of modern industrial development in Gujarat.
Another notable figure from this period was Karsandas Mulji Thakkar (1849-1929), a social reformer and educationist. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting women's education in the region.
The surname "Thakkar" has also been associated with various place names in Gujarat, such as Thakkarnagar and Thakkarvadi, which were likely named after members of the Thakkar community who resided or held influence in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Thakkar
Among Census respondents with the surname Thakkar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Thakkar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Thakkar surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.0% · 4,277
- White2.6% · 115
- Two or more races1.4% · 63
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 23
- Black or African American0.3% · 13
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 13
Timeline
Historical Census data for Thakkar
Thakkar appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,204
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,157
+1,397 bearers (+79.4%)
Per 100,000 1.07
Rank movement Up 5,123 places
2020
#7,147
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,504
+1,347 bearers (+42.7%)
Per 100,000 1.51
Rank movement Up 3,057 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,327 | 1,760 | 0.65 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,204 | 3,157 | 1.07 | +1,397 bearers (+79.4%) | Up 5,123 places |
| 2020 | #7,147 | 4,504 | 1.51 | +1,347 bearers (+42.7%) | Up 3,057 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Thakkar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,204 | #7,147 | 30.0% |
| Count | 3,157 | 4,504 | 42.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.07 | 1.51 | 40.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Thakkar bearers went from 3,157 to 4,504 (+42.7% change). The surname moved up 3,057 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,204 to #7,147.
FAQ
Thakkar surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Thakkar?
Name Census estimates that about 5,165 living Americans carry the surname Thakkar. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 66,361 residents.
How common is Thakkar?
Thakkar ranks #7,147 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.51 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,504 people with the surname Thakkar. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,165), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.51 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.51 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Thakkar.
Has Thakkar become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Thakkar went from 3,157 recorded bearers to 4,504. That is an increase of 1,347 (+42.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #10,204 to #7,147.
What does the Census say about the background of Thakkar?
Among Census respondents with the surname Thakkar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.0%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Thakkar in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (4,277 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Thakkar appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (95.0%), White (2.6%), Two or More Races (1.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Thakkar (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Thakkar mean?
A Gujarati occupational surname referring to a carpenter or wood carver. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Thakkar (1.51 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Thakkar?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.