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

Vanam, 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 Vanam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vanam in America

Vanam is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vanam surname appeared 110 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 Vanam.

The history of the last name Vanam

The surname Vanam is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern regions of India. It is derived from the Tamil word "vanam," which means "forest" or "woods." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived in or near forested areas or worked as foresters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vanam can be found in ancient Tamil literature, particularly in the Sangam literature, which dates back to the early centuries of the common era. This literary corpus contains references to individuals with the name Vanam, indicating its existence and usage during that period.

In the medieval era, the name Vanam appeared in various epigraphic records and inscriptions found in temple complexes and religious sites across the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. These inscriptions often documented land grants, donations, and administrative records, providing valuable insights into the historical significance and prevalence of the name.

One notable individual with the surname Vanam was Vanam Sivaji Rao (1770-1835), a renowned Telugu poet and playwright who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of the Nizam's dominions (present-day Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh). His works, such as "Vanamalika" and "Sivaramavilasamu," are considered classics in Telugu literature.

Another prominent figure bearing the Vanam surname was Vanam Venkaiah (1890-1969), a renowned Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Andhra Pradesh. He played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement and was actively involved in promoting education and social upliftment in his region.

In the 18th century, the name Vanam was also associated with certain place names in the southern Indian region. For instance, the village of Vanam in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri district was likely named after individuals or families with the Vanam surname who resided there or held significant influence in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Vanam include Vanam Sambaiah (1875-1948), a prominent Telugu writer and social activist from Andhra Pradesh, and Vanam Venkataramana Sastry (1895-1975), a respected scholar and author who contributed to the preservation and promotion of Telugu literature and culture.

Throughout history, the surname Vanam has maintained its association with the southern Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, where it has been deeply rooted and has held cultural and linguistic significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vanam

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

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 Vanam 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.

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

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

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