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

Varma, 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 Varma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Varma in America

Varma is the 16586th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Varma surname appeared 1,729 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 Varma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Varma 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 Varma

The surname Varma has its origins in India, where it can be traced back several centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Varman," which means "armor" or "shield." The name was likely first adopted by members of the Kshatriya caste, which comprised rulers, warriors, and landowners.

In ancient Indian texts and inscriptions, the name Varma is found associated with various ruling dynasties and prominent individuals. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the 4th century CE, when a king named Chandragupta Varma ruled over parts of central India.

During the medieval period, the Varma surname gained particular prominence in the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Several powerful feudal families, including the Travancore Royal Family and the Zamorins of Calicut, bore this illustrious surname.

One notable figure from this era was Marthanda Varma (1706-1758), the founder of the Kingdom of Travancore, who is credited with unifying the region and establishing a strong administrative system. Another prominent Varma was Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), a celebrated Indian painter renowned for his portrayal of scenes from Indian mythology and Renaissance-style depictions of women.

In the northern regions of India, the Varma surname was also associated with scholarly and literary pursuits. Bhavabhuti Varma (8th century CE) was a renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist, known for his works like "Malati-Madhava" and "Uttara-Rama-Charita."

Beyond India, the Varma surname has also found its way into other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who migrated or settled abroad. For instance, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Varma (1879-1966) was a prominent Indian lawyer and jurist who served as a judge in the British Indian judicial system.

While the Varma surname has its roots in India, it has become more widely dispersed over time, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields across different parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Varma

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

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

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

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