Explore the Family Name Chandrasekhar
The meaning of Chandrasekhar
Indian (southern states): from a personal name based on Sanskrit Chandrashekhar, an epithet of Shiva, meaning ‘one whose hair is adorned by the moon’. — Note: Since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chandrasekhar in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Chandrasekhar has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 89,895 in popularity but jumped to a ranking of 61,585 in 2010 — an appreciable change of 31.49 percent. The count of individuals with the Chandrasekhar surname also grew from 191 in 2000 to 326 in 2010, marking a substantial increase of 70.68 percent. The proportion per 100,000 people also rose by 57.14 percent within this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #89,895 | #61,585 | 31.49% |
| Count | 191 | 326 | 70.68% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.11 | 57.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chandrasekhar
Examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Chandrasekhar, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the overwhelming majority of individuals with this surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. In both 2000 and 2010, over 92 percent of those with this last name identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, with a slight decrease of 0.37 percent over the decade. There was a notable increase in individuals identifying with two or more races, rising from 0 percent in 2000 to 2.45 percent in 2010. The proportion of individuals identifying as White decreased slightly from 5.24 percent in 2000 to 4.60 percent in 2010. There were no recorded individuals with this surname who identified as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 92.67% | 92.33% | -0.37% |
| White | 5.24% | 4.6% | -12.21% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.45% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |