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

Weerasinghe, 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 Weerasinghe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weerasinghe in America

Weerasinghe is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weerasinghe surname appeared 320 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 Weerasinghe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weerasinghe 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 Weerasinghe

The surname Weerasinghe has its origins in Sri Lanka, a tropical island nation in South Asia. It is a Sinhalese name, derived from the Sinhala language, which is spoken by the majority ethnic group in the country.

The name Weerasinghe is a compound word formed by combining two distinct Sinhala words – "Weera" and "Singhe." "Weera" means brave, courageous, or valiant, while "Singhe" means lion. Thus, the name Weerasinghe can be interpreted as "Brave Lion" or "Courageous Lion."

This surname is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in Sri Lanka, when surnames were often bestowed upon individuals or families based on their occupation, physical traits, or notable achievements. It is likely that the name Weerasinghe was initially given to a warrior or a person of great bravery and strength, akin to a lion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Weerasinghe can be found in the Chulavamsa, a historical chronicle of the island's rich history. The text mentions a notable figure named Weerasinghe Mudaliyar, who served as a high-ranking official during the reign of King Rajadhi Raja Sinha in the late 17th century.

Another prominent individual bearing this surname was Don Juan Weerasinghe, a distinguished Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) scholar and writer who lived in the 19th century. He authored several literary works and played a significant role in preserving the Sinhala language and culture.

In the 20th century, Jatila Weerasinghe (1899-1975) was a renowned Sinhala playwright and novelist known for his contributions to Sri Lankan literature. His works explored themes of social inequality, cultural identity, and the struggles of the common people.

More recently, Jayanthi Weerasinghe (born 1951) is a respected Sri Lankan actress and singer who has been active in the entertainment industry for over four decades. She has received numerous accolades for her performances in both theater and cinema.

Ranjith Weerasinghe (born 1958) is a renowned Sri Lankan filmmaker and screenwriter, acclaimed for his thought-provoking and socially conscious films. His work often tackles issues of class, corruption, and the complexities of Sri Lankan society.

While the name Weerasinghe is predominantly found in Sri Lanka, it has also gained recognition and respect beyond the island nation due to the achievements and contributions of individuals bearing this surname in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weerasinghe

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

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

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

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