2010
#145,220
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Vanata
A surname possibly derived from a location name in India.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Vanata. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vanata 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.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Vanata in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanata, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vanata
The surname VANATA has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, originating from the Sanskrit word "vanata," which translates to "humility" or "modesty." This name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, particularly in the northern regions of India.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VANATA can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, where it was used to describe individuals who embodied the virtues of humility and modesty. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by families or individuals who sought to embrace these qualities as part of their identity.
In the 12th century, a renowned poet and philosopher named Rama VANATA gained recognition for his contributions to the literary and spiritual landscape of the time. His works explored the themes of self-reflection and inner growth, reflecting the essence of the name's meaning.
During the Mughal era, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the VANATA surname was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Govind VANATA, a skilled artisan who created intricate carvings and architectural embellishments for imperial palaces and monuments.
As the British colonial presence in India grew stronger, the surname VANATA was documented in administrative records and historical archives. One notable example is Lakshmi VANATA, a prominent freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian independence movement against British rule in the early 20th century.
In the realm of performing arts, the name VANATA has also left its mark. Renowned classical dancer and choreographer Shanta VANATA, born in 1923, was celebrated for her mastery of the Bharatanatyam dance form and her efforts in preserving and promoting Indian cultural heritage.
Throughout its history, the surname VANATA has been associated with individuals who have embraced the virtues of humility and modesty, while also making significant contributions to various fields, including literature, arts, and sociopolitical movements.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vanata
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanata, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Vanata 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 Vanata surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino5.5% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.7% · 4
- Two or more races3.7% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Vanata
Vanata appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-5 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,985 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #145,220 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.4%) | Down 4,985 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 Vanata 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 | #145,220 | #150,205 | -3.4% |
| Count | 114 | 109 | -4.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Vanata bearers went from 114 to 109 (-4.4% change). The surname moved down 4,985 positions in the national ranking, going from #145,220 to #150,205.
FAQ
Vanata surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Vanata?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Vanata. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Vanata?
Vanata ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Vanata. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Vanata.
Has Vanata become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Vanata went from 114 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #145,220 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Vanata?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanata, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Vanata in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.2% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Vanata appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.2%), Hispanic (5.5%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). 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 Vanata (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 Vanata mean?
A surname possibly derived from a location name in India. 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 Vanata (0.04 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 have the last name Vanata?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how common the surname Vanata is at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.