2000
#19,828
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,255
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.47
Rare Last name
Vora
An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word meaning 'prosperous' or 'flourishing'.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,886 Americans carry the last name Vora. That puts it at #11,896 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.84 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 118,764 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vora surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Vora with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.9K
1 in 118,764
Census rank
#11,896
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,517 bearers of the surname Vora in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.84 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11896th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vora, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vora
The surname Vora has its origins in India, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "vora," which means "merchant" or "trader." This association with commerce and trade suggests that the name was likely borne by individuals who were involved in these activities during that era.
The name Vora is predominantly found in the western Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, where it was particularly prevalent among communities engaged in mercantile pursuits. Some historical references indicate that the name was also present in certain regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Vora surname was Shantidas Vora, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, during the 17th century. His successful business ventures and philanthropic contributions earned him a respected place in the city's annals.
Another notable figure was Ranchhodlal Chhotalal Vora, a pioneering industrialist and entrepreneur from Surat, Gujarat, who lived from 1870 to 1953. He played a significant role in the establishment of the textile industry in the region and was instrumental in the economic development of the city.
In the field of literature, Govardhanram Tripathi Vora (1888-1958) was a renowned Gujarati poet, scholar, and critic. His works, including the epic poem "Narmad Ramayana," are considered seminal contributions to the Gujarati literary canon.
The surname Vora has also been associated with certain place names, such as Voravali, a town in the Surat district of Gujarat. This connection suggests that some individuals bearing the name may have originated from or lived in these areas, further solidifying the link between the surname and its geographical roots.
Another prominent figure was Ranchoddas Girdhardas Vora (1864-1946), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Bombay (now Mumbai), who made significant contributions to the development of the city's infrastructure and educational institutions.
While the surname Vora is primarily concentrated in the western regions of India, its presence can also be found in other parts of the country, as well as among the Indian diaspora worldwide, reflecting the mobility and migration of individuals over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vora
Among Census respondents with the surname Vora, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Vora bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Vora surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander92.2% · 2,321
- Two or more races3.0% · 75
- White2.7% · 67
- Hispanic or Latino1.5% · 39
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 8
- Black or African American0.3% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Vora
Vora appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#15,833
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,838
+583 bearers (+46.5%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Up 3,995 places
2020
#11,896
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,517
+679 bearers (+36.9%)
Per 100,000 0.84
Rank movement Up 3,937 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #19,828 | 1,255 | 0.47 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,833 | 1,838 | 0.62 | +583 bearers (+46.5%) | Up 3,995 places |
| 2020 | #11,896 | 2,517 | 0.84 | +679 bearers (+36.9%) | Up 3,937 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Vora surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,833 | #11,896 | 24.9% |
| Count | 1,838 | 2,517 | 36.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.62 | 0.84 | 35.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Vora bearers went from 1,838 to 2,517 (+36.9% change). The surname moved up 3,937 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,833 to #11,896.
FAQ
Vora surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Vora?
Name Census estimates that about 2,886 living Americans carry the surname Vora. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 118,764 residents.
How common is Vora?
Vora ranks #11,896 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.84 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,517 people with the surname Vora. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,886), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.84 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.84 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Vora.
Has Vora become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Vora went from 1,838 recorded bearers to 2,517. That is an increase of 679 (+36.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,833 to #11,896.
What does the Census say about the background of Vora?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vora, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Vora in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (2,321 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Vora appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (92.2%), Two or More Races (3.0%), White (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Vora (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Vora mean?
An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word meaning 'prosperous' or 'flourishing'. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Vora (0.84 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Vora?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.