Vellanki last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Vellanki

A South Indian surname believed to be derived from a place name or village.

Vellanki, 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 Vellanki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vellanki in America

Vellanki is the 76768th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vellanki surname appeared 250 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 Vellanki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vellanki 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 76768 138741 -57.51%
Count 250 111 77.01%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.04 66.67%

The history of the last name Vellanki

The surname VELLANKI has its origins rooted in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century CE. The name is derived from the Telugu language, which is predominantly spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

VELLANKI is thought to be a toponymic surname, meaning it originated from a place name or a geographic location. It is likely that the name was derived from a village or a settlement called Vellanki, although the exact location and its historical significance have not been conclusively established.

In the ancient and medieval eras, surnames were often adopted to denote one's place of origin, occupation, or lineage. The suffix "ki" in VELLANKI is a common indicator of a place name in Telugu, suggesting that the surname was originally associated with a particular village or region.

While no definitive historical records have been found explicitly mentioning the surname VELLANKI, it is possible that it may have appeared in local documents or inscriptions from the region during the medieval period. However, due to the scarcity of well-preserved records from that time, it is difficult to pinpoint the earliest known instance of the name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname VELLANKI is Vellanki Kotayya, a prominent scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his contributions to Telugu literature and his works, including the poetic composition "Kotayya Satakamu," which is still widely studied and celebrated.

Another notable figure with the VELLANKI surname is Vellanki Bhavanarayana, a renowned freedom fighter and social reformer from the 20th century. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly to uplift the marginalized communities in Andhra Pradesh.

In the field of arts and literature, Vellanki Balarama Murthy, a celebrated playwright and novelist from the late 20th century, made significant contributions to Telugu literature. His works explored various social and cultural themes, earning him widespread recognition and numerous accolades.

Vellanki Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, was a legendary actor and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1983 to 1995. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the state's political and cultural landscape.

Another notable figure is Vellanki Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, a prominent scientist and aerospace engineer who played a crucial role in India's space program. He served as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and oversaw several groundbreaking missions and technological advancements.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname VELLANKI who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout history. While the exact origins and early occurrences of the name remain somewhat obscure, it is clear that the VELLANKI surname has a rich heritage and a notable presence in the cultural and historical tapestry of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vellanki

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

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 Vellanki was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 2.40% 6
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 97.20% 243
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Vellanki has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 2.40% (S)% (S)%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 97.20% 91.89% 5.62%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% 5.41% -200.00%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (S)%

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

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

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"Vellanki last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/vellanki-surname-popularity/.

"Vellanki last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/vellanki-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Vellanki last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/vellanki-surname-popularity/.

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