Explore the Family Name Ganesan
The meaning of Ganesan
Indian (Kerala, Tamil Nadu): from a personal name derived from Sanskrit gaṇeṣa ‘lord of the army’ (see Ganesh) + the Tamil-Malayalam third-person masculine singular suffix -n. — 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. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Kumar, Ram, Ganesh, Guru, Krishna, Ramesh, Ravi, Sridhar, Sriram, Subramanian, Suresh, Anand.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ganesan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Ganesan has seen a significant increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Ganesan was ranked 38,942 and by 2010 it had moved up to rank 22,944, marking an upward shift by 41.08%. The count of people with this surname also rose from 533 in 2000 to 1,115 in 2010, indicating a dramatic growth rate of 109.19%. The proportion per 100k reflects this trend as well, with a surge of 90% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,942 | #22,944 | 41.08% |
| Count | 533 | 1,115 | 109.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.38 | 90% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ganesan
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of people with the surname Ganesan identified themselves as Asian/Pacific Islander in both 2000 and 2010. This ethnic identity saw a slight increase of 2.16% over the decade. There was a noticeable decrease for those identifying as two or more races, dropping from 2.81% in 2000 to only 0.54% in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased slightly by 21.67%. Interestingly, the census recorded no individuals with this surname identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. However, there was a small emergence of individuals identifying as Black in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 94.37% | 96.41% | 2.16% |
| White | 2.63% | 2.06% | -21.67% |
| Two or More Races | 2.81% | 0.54% | -80.78% |
| Black | 0% | 0.54% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |