Amit last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Amit is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Amit.

Meaning of Amit

A Hebrew surname meaning "friend" or "truthful".

Amit, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Amit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amit in America

Amit is the 94730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amit surname appeared 193 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Amit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amit to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 94730 107565 -12.69%
Count 193 153 23.12%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name Amit

The surname Amit has its origins in India, where it first emerged in the ancient Sanskrit language. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Amita," which means "infinite," "boundless," or "immeasurable." The name initially gained popularity during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, and was often associated with philosophical and spiritual teachings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amit can be found in the Upanishads, a collection of ancient Hindu philosophical texts. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, there is a mention of a sage named Amit, who is believed to have lived around the 8th century BCE. This reference suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the medieval era, the name Amit appeared in various literary works and historical records. One notable example is the 12th-century Sanskrit text, the Mitaksara, written by the renowned scholar Vijnaneshvara. The text mentions an individual named Amit, who was likely a contemporary of the author.

During the Mughal period, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Amit continued to be used, particularly among Hindu communities. One notable figure from this era was Amit Shah, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his successful business ventures and philanthropic activities.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Amit was Amit Singh, a brave warrior who fought alongside the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. Amit Singh was known for his bravery and unwavering loyalty to the Maratha cause.

In the 19th century, the name Amit gained further recognition with the birth of Amit Majumdar, a renowned Bengali writer and social reformer. Majumdar, who lived from 1832 to 1904, was a prolific author and played a significant role in the Bengali Renaissance, advocating for social and educational reforms.

As the name Amit is deeply rooted in Indian culture and history, it is not surprising that numerous other notable individuals have carried this surname throughout the centuries. From ancient sages and scholars to warriors and writers, the name Amit has left an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of Indian heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amit

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Amit.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Amit was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 63.73% 123
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 30.57% 59
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.15% 8
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Amit has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 63.73% 62.75% 1.55%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 30.57% 30.72% -0.49%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 4.15% 5.88% -34.50%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Amit was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Amit, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Amit last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 27, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/amit-surname-popularity/.

"Amit last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/amit-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 April, 2025

Amit last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/amit-surname-popularity/.

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