What does the Natarajan surname mean?

The Natarajan surname means "Lord of the dance (Shiva)". It is of Sanskrit (Nata-raja — king of dancers) origin and is predominantly found among Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.

Natarajan Surname

“Lord of the dance (Shiva)”

BrahminSanskrit (Nata-raja — king of dancers) OriginTamil

History & Significance

A Tamil Brahmin surname honouring Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer — one of the most iconic representations of the divine in all of Indian art. Nataraja's dance (the Ananda Tandava) symbolises the cyclical creation and destruction of the universe. This surname is primarily found among Tamil Iyer (Shaivite) Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu.

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Lord of the dance (Shiva)
Origin: Sanskrit (Nata-raja — king of dancers)
Language: Tamil
Category: Brahmin

Regional Distribution

The Natarajan surname is predominantly found in:

Tamil NaduKarnataka

Related Surnames

Subramaniam— Dear to Brahmins / Murugan the beloved Iyer— Honorific for learned person Krishnan— Of Krishna Thyagarajan— Lord of sacrifice / Shiva as the renouncer

What is the Gotra for Natarajan?

Gotra is passed down through the paternal line and may vary within families sharing the same surname. Use our Gotra Finder to discover which Gotra your family belongs to.

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