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

Vats, 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 Vats surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vats in America

Vats is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vats surname appeared 173 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 Vats.

The history of the last name Vats

The surname "VATS" is of Indian origin, with its roots traced back to the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the states of Punjab and Haryana. The name is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Vatsa," which means "calf" or "young one." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for those involved in cattle rearing or related professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "VATS" can be found in the ancient Hindu texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a prominent Kshatriya (warrior) clan. The Vatsas are described as a powerful dynasty that ruled over the region of modern-day Uttar Pradesh and parts of Bihar during the epic period.

During the medieval era, the "VATS" surname gained prominence among the Khatri community, a trading and mercantile group found predominantly in northern India. Historical records from the Mughal period indicate that several individuals bearing the "VATS" surname held influential positions as merchants and traders, facilitating the flow of goods and commerce across the region.

One notable example is Rai Vats, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who lived in the 17th century. He is credited with establishing several educational institutions and charitable foundations in the city of Banaras (now Varanasi), contributing significantly to the cultural and intellectual development of the region.

In the 18th century, the "VATS" surname gained further recognition with the rise of Lala Vats, a prominent entrepreneur and industrialist from Delhi. He established a successful textile business and played a crucial role in the economic growth of the city during the British Raj.

Another prominent figure bearing the "VATS" surname is Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vats, a renowned archaeologist and historian who lived from 1891 to 1966. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian history and culture, particularly through his research on the Indus Valley Civilization and his extensive work on excavations at various archaeological sites across India.

The "VATS" surname has also been associated with several distinguished scholars and writers throughout history. One such figure is Bhagwandas Vats, a renowned Hindi author and poet who lived from 1887 to 1967. His literary works, including novels, short stories, and poetry, have made a lasting impact on the Hindi literary landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vats

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

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

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

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