2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Badesha
A surname originating from the Punjabi/Hindi term "Badshah", meaning King or Ruler.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 214 Americans carry the last name Badesha. That puts it at #102,571 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,601,656 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Badesha surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Badesha with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
214
1 in 1,601,656
Census rank
#102,571
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
187
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 187 bearers of the surname Badesha in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 102571st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Badesha, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Badesha
The surname "BADESHA" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the Punjab region. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "badshah," which means "king" or "emperor." This suggests that the name may have been associated with royalty or individuals who held positions of authority and power.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BADESHA" can be found in the historical records of the Mughal Empire, which ruled over parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. During this period, the name was likely used as a title or honorific to address rulers or noblemen.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure bearing the name "BADESHA" was Badesha Singh, a Sikh warrior and leader who played a significant role in the resistance against the Afghan invaders in Punjab. He was known for his bravery and military prowess, earning him a place in the annals of Sikh history.
Another notable individual with the surname "BADESHA" was Badesha Khan, a influential Muslim ruler who governed the region of Kalat (now part of Pakistan) in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was renowned for his efforts in establishing a strong centralized administration and promoting trade in the region.
In the 19th century, a famous literary figure named Badesha Singh Arora gained recognition for his contributions to Punjabi literature. He authored several works, including poetry and plays, and played a vital role in preserving and promoting the Punjabi language and culture.
During the British colonial era in India, the surname "BADESHA" was also associated with landowners and affluent families, particularly in the Punjab region. Some of these families traced their lineage back to the Mughal nobility or local chieftains, further reinforcing the connection between the name and positions of power and influence.
It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as "BADSHAH" or "BADSHA," may have existed throughout history, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional variations within the Indian subcontinent. Additionally, the name may have been adopted or modified by different communities and cultures over time, reflecting the rich tapestry of history and cultural exchanges in the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Badesha
Among Census respondents with the surname Badesha, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Badesha bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Badesha surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.6% · 175
- Hispanic or Latino2.1% · 4
- Two or more races2.1% · 4
- White1.1% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Badesha
Badesha appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#102,571
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 187
+66 bearers (+54.5%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 35,733 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #102,571 | 187 | 0.06 | +66 bearers (+54.5%) | Up 35,733 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Badesha surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #102,571 | 25.8% |
| Count | 121 | 187 | 54.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.06 | 56.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Badesha bearers went from 121 to 187 (+54.5% change). The surname moved up 35,733 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #102,571.
FAQ
Badesha surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Badesha?
Name Census estimates that about 214 living Americans carry the surname Badesha. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,601,656 residents.
How common is Badesha?
Badesha ranks #102,571 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 187 people with the surname Badesha. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (214), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Badesha.
Has Badesha become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Badesha went from 121 recorded bearers to 187. That is an increase of 66 (+54.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #138,304 to #102,571.
What does the Census say about the background of Badesha?
Among Census respondents with the surname Badesha, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Badesha in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.6% (175 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Badesha appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (93.6%), Hispanic (2.1%), Two or More Races (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Badesha (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Badesha mean?
A surname originating from the Punjabi/Hindi term "Badshah", meaning King or Ruler. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Badesha (0.06 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Badesha?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.