Explore the Family Name Ramalingam
The meaning of Ramalingam
Indian (southern states): from a personal name based on a Sanskrit expression meaning ‘the divine light of Rama’ (see Ram); lingam in Sanskrit denotes the phallic symbol, which also symbolizes life and light. — 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 Ramalingam in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ramalingam has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Ramalingam was ranked 72,022 in popularity, but by 2010 it had jumped to the 41,799th spot, reflecting a change of approximately 42%. The count of individuals with this surname more than doubled over this period, increasing from 252 in 2000 to 520 by 2010, an increase of around 106%. Consequently, the proportion of Ramalingams per 100,000 people also surged, doubling from 0.09 to 0.18.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #72,022 | #41,799 | 41.96% |
| Count | 252 | 520 | 106.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.18 | 100% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ramalingam
In regards to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Ramalingam surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. In 2000, 90.87% of Ramalingams identified as such, and this figure slightly increased to 93.46% by 2010. Those identifying with two or more races formed the next largest group, although their representation dropped by roughly 36% from 6.35% in 2000 to 4.04% in 2010. A small percentage (2.38% in 2000 and 1.92% in 2010) identified as White. There were no individuals who identified as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 90.87% | 93.46% | 2.85% |
| Two or More Races | 6.35% | 4.04% | -36.38% |
| White | 2.38% | 1.92% | -19.33% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |