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

Bakshi, 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 Bakshi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bakshi in America

Bakshi is the 24702nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bakshi surname appeared 1,010 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 Bakshi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bakshi 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.

The history of the last name Bakshi

The surname BAKSHI is of Punjabi origin, and its roots can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Persian word "Bakhshi," which refers to a paymaster or a person responsible for disbursing salaries and managing finances.

It is believed that the BAKSHI surname first emerged among members of the Khatri caste, who traditionally held positions as merchants, traders, and accountants. This occupation likely led to the adoption of the name, as the Bakhshi role was closely associated with financial management and record-keeping.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BAKSHI surname can be found in the Mughal Empire's administrative records from the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, several individuals with the BAKSHI surname held prominent positions as paymasters and financial advisors to the Mughal rulers.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the BAKSHI surname gained prominence in the Punjab region, particularly among the Sikh community. Notable individuals with this surname include Bhai Bakhtawar Singh Bakshi (1719-1770), a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the Sikh resistance against the Afghan invaders.

Another influential figure was Bakshi Har Govind Singh (1870-1947), a renowned Sikh scholar and theologian who served as the Jathedar (head priest) of the Akal Takht, the temporal seat of the Sikh religion.

In the 20th century, the BAKSHI surname gained wider recognition with individuals like Kapoor Singh Bakshi (1915-1988), an Indian politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of several Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The name also gained international recognition through the acclaimed filmmaker Vijay Anand Bakshi, better known as Vijay Anand (1934-1992), who directed iconic Bollywood films such as "Guide" and "Jewel Thief."

It is worth noting that the BAKSHI surname has also been spelled in various ways, such as Bakhshi, Bakshi, and Bakshee, reflecting regional and linguistic variations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bakshi

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

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 Bakshi was:

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 Bakshi has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Bakshi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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