Vishwakarma
A Hindu surname associated with the divine architect and engineer of the universe.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Vishwakarma. That puts it at #131,379 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vishwakarma surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#131,379
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
129
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 129 bearers of the surname Vishwakarma in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 131379th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vishwakarma, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.1%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vishwakarma
The surname "VISHWAKARMA" is of Indian origin, tracing its roots back to ancient Sanskrit texts and Hindu mythology. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "Vishwa" meaning "universe" and "Karma" meaning "action" or "work".
The name is associated with the divine architect and craftsman of the same name in Hindu tradition, who is believed to have constructed the divine weapons and chariots for the gods. This connection suggests that the surname may have been adopted by skilled artisans, craftsmen, or builders in ancient India.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest Sanskrit texts, which mentions Vishwakarma as the divine architect and patron of various crafts. The name is also mentioned in other Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads and the Puranas.
In the medieval period, the name appears in various inscriptions and records from different parts of India, particularly in regions where Hindu cultural influence was strong. For example, there are references to individuals with the surname Vishwakarma in inscriptions from the Chola Dynasty in Tamil Nadu and the Chalukya Dynasty in Karnataka.
Notable historical figures with the surname Vishwakarma include:
1. Bhaskaracharya (c. 1114-1185 CE), a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer from the state of Karnataka, who made significant contributions to the field of calculus and wrote several influential works.
2. Mandan Mishra (c. 8th century CE), a celebrated philosopher and logician from the state of Bihar, who engaged in philosophical debates with the renowned philosopher Adi Shankara.
3. Vishwanath Khajuria (1589-1659 CE), a renowned architect and engineer from the state of Jammu and Kashmir, who is credited with designing and constructing several historic monuments, including the Hari Parbat Fort in Srinagar.
4. Pandit Vishwakarma (c. 16th century CE), a skilled artisan and sculptor from the state of Uttar Pradesh, who is known for his intricate carvings and sculptures adorning various temples and monuments in the region.
5. Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1734-1778 CE), a prominent ruler of the Rajput kingdom of Jaipur in Rajasthan, who was known for his patronage of arts and architecture during his reign.
The surname Vishwakarma is often associated with places and regions in India where skilled artisans and craftsmen historically resided, such as Varanasi, Jaipur, and various parts of South India. It is also linked to certain caste or community groups traditionally involved in crafts and construction-related professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vishwakarma
Among Census respondents with the surname Vishwakarma, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.1%.
The bar chart below shows how Vishwakarma bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Vishwakarma surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander96.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Vishwakarma surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131,379 | #131,379 | 0.0% |
| Count | 129 | 129 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Vishwakarma bearers went from 129 to 129 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #131,379.
FAQ
Vishwakarma surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Vishwakarma?
The surname Vishwakarma holds position #131,379 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Vishwakarma surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vishwakarma, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.1%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.