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

Vijay, 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 Vijay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vijay in America

Vijay is the 35489th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vijay surname appeared 634 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 Vijay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vijay 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 Vijay

The surname Vijay originates from India and has its roots in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "vijaya," which means "victory" or "triumph." It is believed to have originated around the 5th century BCE.

The earliest recorded instances of the Vijay surname can be found in ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions from various regions of the Indian subcontinent. One notable reference is in the Gupta Empire inscriptions from the 4th to 6th century CE, where the name appears as "Vijayaraja" or "Vijayasena."

During the medieval period, the Vijay surname was particularly prevalent among the warrior and ruling classes in various Indian kingdoms and empires. It was often bestowed upon individuals who achieved military victories or demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

One of the earliest notable figures with the Vijay surname was Vijayalaya Cholaideva, a 9th-century Tamil ruler who founded the Chola dynasty in present-day Tamil Nadu. He played a crucial role in establishing the Chola Empire and is considered a significant figure in South Indian history.

Another famous historical figure with the Vijay surname was Vijayaraja Soyambhu, a 12th-century Chola king known for his military conquests and patronage of arts and architecture. He oversaw the construction of several magnificent temples, including the famous Brihadishvara Temple in Thanjavur.

In the 16th century, Vijayanagar Empire, one of the last great Hindu kingdoms in South India, was ruled by the Vijay dynasty. The empire was founded by Vijaya Bukka Raya and his brother Vijaya Harihara Raya, who established the city of Vijayanagar as their capital.

During the British colonial period in India, the Vijay surname was also found among influential families and individuals. One notable figure was Vijay Singh Pathania, a 19th-century Rajput ruler who fought against the British East India Company and played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Throughout history, the Vijay surname has been associated with bravery, leadership, and triumph, reflecting its roots in the Sanskrit word "vijaya." The name continues to be widely used in various parts of India and among the Indian diaspora around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vijay

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

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

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

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