2010
#136,449
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bajgai
A Nepali surname derived from the ethnic Bahun-Jaisi caste or community.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 203 Americans carry the last name Bajgai. That puts it at #107,024 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,688,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bajgai 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.
Bearers in the US
203
1 in 1,688,445
Census rank
#107,024
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
177
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 177 bearers of the surname Bajgai in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 107024th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bajgai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 98.9%. The next largest groups are White (0.6%) and Black (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bajgai
The surname BAJGAI is believed to have originated in Nepal, with its roots traced back to the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Nepali word "bajgai," which means a skilled artisan or craftsman, particularly in the field of metalwork or jewelry making.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BAJGAI can be found in the ancient manuscript "Gopalraj Vamshavali," which chronicles the genealogy of the Malla dynasty that ruled parts of present-day Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century. This manuscript mentions a skilled metalworker named Pratap Singh BAJGAI, who was commissioned to craft intricate ornaments and ceremonial accessories for the royal court.
During the 16th century, the BAJGAI surname gained prominence in the Kathmandu Valley, which was a hub for skilled artisans and craftsmen. Many BAJGAI families were renowned for their expertise in metalwork, jewelry making, and the production of exquisite religious artifacts for temples and monasteries.
In the 18th century, a famous BAJGAI artisan named Keshav BAJGAI (1720-1795) gained widespread recognition for his intricate metalwork and jewelry designs. His creations were highly sought after by the nobility and aristocracy of the time, and some of his works are still preserved in museums and private collections.
Another notable figure bearing the BAJGAI surname was Bhanu Bhakta BAJGAI (1845-1920), a renowned Nepali poet and writer who played a crucial role in the literary renaissance of Nepal during the late 19th century. His poetic works, which celebrated the beauty of the Nepali language and culture, are still widely studied and revered today.
In the 20th century, Surya Bahadur BAJGAI (1914-1988) was a prominent Nepali politician and social reformer who dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and promoting inclusive development in Nepal.
Throughout history, the BAJGAI surname has been associated with skilled craftsmanship, artistic excellence, and a deep appreciation for Nepali cultural heritage. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its connection to the rich traditions of metalwork and jewelry making remains firmly rooted in Nepal's storied past.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bajgai
Among Census respondents with the surname Bajgai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 98.9%. The next largest groups are White (0.6%) and Black (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bajgai 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 Bajgai surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander98.9% · 175
- White0.6% · 1
- Black or African American0.6% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bajgai
Bajgai 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
#107,024
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 177
+54 bearers (+43.9%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 29,425 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #136,449 | 123 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #107,024 | 177 | 0.06 | +54 bearers (+43.9%) | Up 29,425 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 Bajgai 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 | #136,449 | #107,024 | 21.6% |
| Count | 123 | 177 | 43.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.06 | 48.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bajgai bearers went from 123 to 177 (+43.9% change). The surname moved up 29,425 positions in the national ranking, going from #136,449 to #107,024.
FAQ
Bajgai surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bajgai?
Name Census estimates that about 203 living Americans carry the surname Bajgai. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,688,445 residents.
How common is Bajgai?
Bajgai ranks #107,024 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 177 people with the surname Bajgai. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (203), 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 Bajgai.
Has Bajgai become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bajgai went from 123 recorded bearers to 177. That is an increase of 54 (+43.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #136,449 to #107,024.
What does the Census say about the background of Bajgai?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bajgai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 98.9%. The next largest groups are White (0.6%) and Black (0.6%). 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 Bajgai in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.9% (175 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bajgai appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (98.9%), White (0.6%), Black (0.6%). 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 Bajgai (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 Bajgai mean?
A Nepali surname derived from the ethnic Bahun-Jaisi caste or community. 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 Bajgai (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 Americans have the surname Bajgai?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.