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

Bhai, 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 Bhai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bhai in America

Bhai is the 102688th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bhai surname appeared 175 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 Bhai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bhai 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 Bhai

The surname BHAI originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Punjab and Haryana. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'bhrātr', meaning 'brother'. The name gained prominence during the medieval period when it was used as a term of respect and endearment among the Sikh community.

In the 16th century, the name BHAI was associated with the prominent Sikh figures, such as Bhai Mardana, the lifelong companion and devotee of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Bhai Gurdas, a 16th-century Sikh religious scholar and poet, is also known for his literary contributions to Sikh literature.

The name BHAI can be found in various historical records, including the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, where it is mentioned in reference to several influential Sikh personalities. The Janam Sakhis, biographies of the Sikh Gurus, also contain references to individuals with the surname BHAI.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BHAI can be traced back to Bhai Vasti Ram (1589-1663), a renowned Sikh scholar and warrior who played a significant role in the defense of the Sikh faith during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Another notable figure with the surname BHAI is Bhai Taru Singh (1720-1745), a prominent Sikh martyr who sacrificed his life for the protection of the Sikh community during the persecution by the Mughal authorities.

Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha (1861-1938), a renowned Sikh scholar and lexicographer, is also a prominent figure associated with the surname BHAI. He authored the monumental work 'Gurushabad Ratanakar Mahan Kosh', a comprehensive encyclopedia of Sikh literature and philosophy.

Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), a celebrated Sikh poet, scholar, and theologian, is widely regarded as the father of modern Punjabi literature. His literary works, such as the novel 'Sundari' and the epic 'Rani Sundari', have had a profound impact on Sikh literature and culture.

Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid (1909-1988), a renowned Sikh scholar and historian, made significant contributions to the understanding of Sikh history and literature through his extensive research and writings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bhai

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!