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

Vishwanath, 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 Vishwanath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vishwanath in America

Vishwanath is the 78567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vishwanath surname appeared 243 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 Vishwanath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vishwanath 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 Vishwanath

The surname Vishwanath is of Sanskrit origin, rooted in the Indian subcontinent. It dates back to ancient times, with its earliest known records appearing in Hindu scriptures and texts. The name is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "Vishwa," meaning "universe" or "cosmos," and "nath," meaning "lord" or "master." Thus, the literal meaning of Vishwanath is "The Lord of the Universe."

This surname is closely associated with the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, who is often referred to as Vishwanath or Vishwanatha. The name can be found in various Hindu mythological stories and legends, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance. It is believed that the surname originated among devotees and followers of Lord Shiva, who revered him as the supreme deity.

In ancient India, the city of Varanasi (also known as Kashi or Benares) was considered one of the holiest cities for Hindus. It was here that a prominent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as the Vishwanath Temple, was established. This temple played a significant role in the spread and popularization of the name Vishwanath, as devotees and residents of the area began adopting it as their surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vishwanath can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. The text mentions a renowned sage named Vishwanath, who was revered for his wisdom and spiritual knowledge. This sage is believed to have lived during the time of the Kurukshetra War, which is central to the narrative of the Mahabharata.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Vishwanath. Among them is the 13th-century Hindu philosopher and saint, Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur (1218-1292), who was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement and the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition. Another prominent figure was the 16th-century Sanskrit scholar and poet, Vishwanath Satavalekar (1500-1580), who is renowned for his influential works on grammar and poetics.

Other notable individuals with the surname Vishwanath include the 19th-century Hindu religious leader and social reformer, Swami Vishwanath (1820-1890), who advocated for the abolition of the caste system and the upliftment of women's rights. Additionally, Vishwanath Pandit (1917-2002) was a renowned Indian classical musician and composer, recognized for his contributions to Hindustani classical music.

The surname Vishwanath has also been associated with several influential figures in the fields of science, literature, and politics. However, it is important to note that the historical records and references mentioned here are based on available information and may not be exhaustive.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vishwanath

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

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

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

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