Bagai last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bagai

An occupational surname used among Punjabis, referring to a gardener or farmer.

Bagai, 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 Bagai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bagai in America

Bagai is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bagai surname appeared 125 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 Bagai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bagai 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 134712 139757 -3.68%
Count 125 110 12.77%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Bagai

The surname Bagai is of Indian origin, tracing its roots back to the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. This name is believed to have evolved from the Sanskrit word "bhaga," which means "prosperity" or "fortunate."

One of the earliest records of the Bagai surname can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where individuals with this name held positions of prominence and respect within their communities. The name was particularly prevalent among the Brahmin caste, suggesting a connection to scholarly or priestly lineages.

In the medieval era, the Bagai surname gained recognition as several individuals bearing this name left their mark on historical accounts. One such notable figure was Shri Bagai, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived during the 12th century. His writings on spirituality and ethics were widely studied and revered.

Another prominent individual with the Bagai surname was Rani Bagai, a courageous warrior queen who ruled over a small kingdom in the present-day state of Rajasthan during the 16th century. She is celebrated for her bravery in defending her people against invaders and her commitment to justice and equality.

The Bagai surname also has a strong association with the Sikh faith and culture. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, had a close disciple named Bhai Bagai who played a pivotal role in the construction of the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, one of the most sacred sites for Sikhs.

During the Mughal era, the Bagai surname gained prominence in various parts of northern India, particularly in regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The name was associated with landowners, merchants, and administrators who held influential positions within the intricate social fabric of that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Bagai surname. Some examples include Pandit Shyam Bagai, a renowned classical vocalist and music educator from the 19th century, and Sardar Bahadur Bagai, a prominent philanthropist and social reformer who lived in the early 20th century and contributed significantly to the educational and cultural development of his region.

The Bagai surname continues to be widely used across various communities in India and among the Indian diaspora around the world, carrying with it a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bagai

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

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 Bagai was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 12.80% 16
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 76.80% 96
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.20% 9
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 Bagai has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 12.80% 4.55% 95.10%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 76.80% 87.27% -12.76%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 7.20% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 4.55% (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 Bagai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bagai, 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!

"Bagai last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/bagai-surname-popularity/.

"Bagai last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/bagai-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

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

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