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

Venkatesh, 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 Venkatesh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Venkatesh in America

Venkatesh is the 23485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Venkatesh surname appeared 1,082 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 Venkatesh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Venkatesh 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 Venkatesh

The surname Venkatesh has its origins in South India, particularly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th to 13th centuries.

Venkatesh is derived from the Sanskrit name 'Venkateshwara', which refers to the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. The name is composed of two words, 'Venkata' (meaning a hill or a tilted ground) and 'Eshwara' (meaning Lord or Master). It is believed that the name was first associated with devotees or priests who served in temples dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, such as the famous Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Venkatesh can be found in the inscriptions and copper plate grants issued by the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled large parts of South India between the 14th and 17th centuries. These inscriptions often mention individuals with the name Venkatesh, suggesting the name's prevalence during that period.

The earliest recorded example of an individual bearing the surname Venkatesh is Venkatesh Vedanta Desikan, a renowned Hindu philosopher and scholar who lived from 1268 to 1369. He was a prominent figure in the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition and authored several influential works.

Another notable person with the surname Venkatesh was Venkatesh Bhat, a 16th-century astronomer and mathematician from Karnataka. He is credited with several contributions to the field of astronomy, including the development of mathematical techniques for calculating eclipses and planetary positions.

In the 17th century, Venkatesh Dikshitar, a Tamil poet and playwright, gained recognition for his works in the Tamil language. His play 'Viraramavilasam' is considered a masterpiece of Tamil literature.

During the 18th century, Venkatesh Raghavendra Tondavalandu was a prominent Carnatic music composer and Harikatha exponent from Andhra Pradesh. He composed several kritis (compositions) and was known for his contributions to the propagation of Carnatic music.

In more recent times, Venkatesh Prasad, an Indian cricketer who played for the national team from 1994 to 2001, is another well-known individual with the surname Venkatesh.

It is important to note that the name Venkatesh has also been adopted by individuals from other communities and regions, particularly in South India, and its usage has expanded beyond its original context.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Venkatesh

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

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

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

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