Explore the Family Name Karnik

The meaning of Karnik

1. Czech (Kárník): occupational name for a user or maker of hand carts (see Kara). Alternatively, it may be a nickname for a convicted offender, from kárat ‘to punish or scold’. 2. Indian (Karnataka, Maharashtra): Brahmin, Kayastha, and Prabhu name, ultimately from Sanskrit karaṇa ‘writer, scribe’. This name is found among the Havyaka Brahmins in Karnataka and the Kayastha Prabhus of Maharashtra. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Satish, Rahul, Ashok, Dilip, Jayant, Ajit, Arvind, Ash, Ashutosh, Chandan, Ganesh, Kanchan.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Karnik in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Karnik" has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Karnik was ranked 44,103rd in popularity, but by 2010 it had risen to 35,764th, marking an 18.91% increase. The count of people with this surname also grew, from 460 individuals in 2000 to 628 in 2010, indicating a substantial 36.52% rise. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 also experienced growth, moving from 0.17 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010, an increase of 23.53%.

20002010Change
Rank#44,103#35,76418.91%
Count46062836.52%
Proportion per 100k0.170.2123.53%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Karnik

The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides interesting insights into the ethnic identity associated with the Karnik surname. In 2000, 41.96% of the individuals with the surname were identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, and this percentage increased significantly to 57.96% by 2010. However, the percentage of those claiming two or more ethnic identities decreased sharply from 3.91% to 1.59% over the same period. The percentage of individuals identifying as White also dropped, moving from 53.04% in 2000 to 39.49% in 2010. There were no changes in the percentages for Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander41.96%57.96%38.13%
White53.04%39.49%-25.55%
Two or More Races3.91%1.59%-59.34%
Hispanic0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%