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

Bhansali, 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 Bhansali surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bhansali in America

Bhansali is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bhansali surname appeared 240 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 Bhansali.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bhansali 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 Bhansali

The surname Bhansali is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the western state of Gujarat. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhansal," which means "a storehouse" or "a warehouse." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who were involved in trade or commerce, perhaps as merchants or warehouse owners.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Bhansali can be traced back to the 16th century in various historical records and manuscripts from the Gujarati region. One notable mention is found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which lists several individuals with the surname Bhansali as influential traders and businessmen during that period.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Bhansali became more widespread across Gujarat and neighboring regions, as members of the community expanded their trading activities and established themselves in various cities and towns. Some prominent individuals bearing the Bhansali name during this time include Bhanji Bhansali (1675-1742), a successful textile merchant and philanthropist, and Shantidas Bhansali (1720-1789), a renowned scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the literary heritage of Gujarat.

As the Bhansali community prospered and gained prominence, they also played a role in the social and cultural life of the region. One notable example is Ranchhodlal Chhotalal Bhansali (1828-1905), a prominent educator and social reformer who founded several educational institutions in Gujarat and worked towards improving the status of women in society.

In more recent times, the Bhansali name has gained recognition in various fields, including the arts and entertainment industry. One of the most famous personalities with this surname is Sanjay Leela Bhansali (born 1963), an acclaimed Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as "Devdas," "Bajirao Mastani," and "Padmaavat."

Another notable figure is Vinod Bhansali (1943-2015), an Indian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Bhansali Trust, a charitable organization that supports various social and educational initiatives in India and abroad.

While the surname Bhansali has its roots in Gujarat, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world, carried by members of the community who have migrated and settled in different regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bhansali

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

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

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

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