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

Vana, 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 Vana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vana in America

Vana is the 29279th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vana surname appeared 808 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 Vana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vana 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 Vana

The surname VANA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the region of Punjab. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "vana," which means "forest" or "woods." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived in or near forested areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VANA can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions. These early references often associated the name with individuals belonging to the Kshatriya caste, which was traditionally associated with warriors and rulers.

During the medieval period, the name VANA gained prominence in the region of Punjab, where it was closely linked to the Sikh community. Several notable figures from Sikh history bore this surname, including Bhai Vana, a renowned scholar and warrior who lived in the 17th century and played a significant role in the formation of the Khalsa Panth.

In the 18th century, the name VANA was further popularized by Sardar Jassa Singh Vana, a prominent Sikh leader and military commander who established the semi-autonomous Sikh state of Vanavali in present-day Rajasthan. His descendants continued to use the surname, and it became closely associated with the region.

Another notable figure bearing the surname VANA was Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), a revered Sikh scholar, theologian, and writer who made significant contributions to the revival of Punjabi literature and the Sikh faith.

Outside of the Indian subcontinent, the name VANA has also been recorded in historical documents from other parts of the world, although its origins and meanings may have evolved differently in these regions. For instance, in parts of Eastern Europe, the name VANA has been associated with the Slavic root "van," meaning "hope" or "expectation."

It is worth noting that while the surname VANA has a rich historical lineage, its prevalence and distribution may have shifted over time due to various factors, such as migration and cultural assimilation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vana

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

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

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

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