Thakur last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Thakur

A title of respect and feudal landlord in parts of India.

Thakur, 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 Thakur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thakur in America

Thakur is the 16171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thakur surname appeared 1,787 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Thakur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thakur 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 16171 28790 -56.13%
Count 1,787 778 78.67%
Proportion per 100k 0.61 0.29 71.11%

The history of the last name Thakur

The surname Thakur originates from the Indian subcontinent, primarily from the northern regions of India and parts of neighboring Nepal. The name has its roots in the Sanskrit language, with the word "Thakkura" referring to a noble, lord, or master. It traces its origins back to ancient times, possibly as early as the 5th century CE.

The name Thakur has been associated with members of the ruling classes, particularly those from the Rajput and Brahmin communities. It was often used as a title of respect and honor for individuals of high social standing or those who held significant land holdings and administrative powers.

Historical references to the name Thakur can be found in various ancient texts and manuscripts, such as the Puranas and other Hindu religious literature. It is also mentioned in inscriptions and records from medieval times, particularly in regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Thakur can be found in the 12th century CE, when the Chauhan ruler Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Prithviraj Thakur, ruled over parts of present-day Rajasthan and Delhi. Other notable individuals with the surname Thakur include Thakur Ranmat Singh (1608-1644), a Rajput warrior and ruler of the Gohad state in central India, and Thakur Karan Singh (1663-1698), the founder of the princely state of Bikaner in Rajasthan.

In the 18th century, Thakur Kushal Singh (1765-1828) was a prominent ruler of the Rathore clan in Rajasthan, known for his military prowess and administrative skills. During the British colonial period, Thakur Devi Singh (1817-1874) served as the Prime Minister of the princely state of Jodhpur and played a significant role in its administration.

Another notable figure with the surname Thakur was Thakur Ganga Singh (1880-1942), the Maharaja of Bikaner from 1887 to 1942. He was known for his progressive reforms and contributions to the development of Bikaner state.

While the surname Thakur has its origins in the northern regions of India, it has since spread to other parts of the country and is found among various communities, reflecting the diverse cultural and social fabric of the subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thakur

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

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 Thakur was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.08% 55
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.95% 17
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 92.56% 1,654
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.45% 8
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.96% 35
Hispanic Origin 1.01% 18

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 Thakur has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.08% 4.37% -34.63%
Black 0.95% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 92.56% 87.15% 6.02%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.45% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.96% 7.33% -115.61%
Hispanic 1.01% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Thakur last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/thakur-surname-popularity/.

"Thakur last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/thakur-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 November, 2024

Thakur last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/thakur-surname-popularity/.

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