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

Bhardwaj, 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 Bhardwaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bhardwaj in America

Bhardwaj is the 17734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bhardwaj surname appeared 1,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bhardwaj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bhardwaj 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 Bhardwaj

The surname Bhardwaj has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to ancient Sanskrit. It is believed to have emerged from the Sanskrit word "Bhrigu," which refers to one of the revered Saptarishi (Seven Sages) in Hindu mythology. The suffix "-waj" denotes lineage or descent, indicating that the Bhardwaj surname signifies descent from the sage Bhrigu.

Historically, the Bhardwaj surname has been associated with the Brahmin caste, particularly the Garga Gotra (lineage), which claims descent from the sage Bhrigu. This lineage played a significant role in the development and preservation of Vedic knowledge and traditions.

The earliest recorded instances of the Bhardwaj surname can be found in various ancient texts, including the Puranas and other Hindu scriptures. These texts often mention individuals with the Bhardwaj surname as scholars, priests, or other notable figures.

One of the most prominent historical figures bearing the Bhardwaj surname was Vishnu Sharma Bhardwaj, a renowned Indian scholar and author who lived around the 3rd century BCE. He is best known for his work, the Panchatantra, a collection of fables and moral stories that have been widely translated and studied across the world.

Another notable individual was Vriddha Gargya Bhardwaj, an ancient sage and grammarian who is credited with contributing to the development of Sanskrit grammar and the study of the Vedas. He is believed to have lived during the Vedic period, between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE.

During the medieval period, the Bhardwaj surname was associated with several influential figures in various fields. One such individual was Lalla Bhardwaj, a 14th-century Kashmiri mystic and poet known for her devotional verses and teachings on spiritual enlightenment.

In the realm of astronomy and mathematics, Ganesa Bhardwaj, who lived in the 9th century CE, made significant contributions. He authored several treatises on astronomy, mathematics, and astrology, including the Grahalaghava and the Brahmasphutasiddhanta.

In more recent history, Vishwanath Prasad Bhardwaj (1922-2009) was a prominent Indian politician and lawyer who served as the Governor of Kerala and Karnataka states. He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.

While the Bhardwaj surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and accounts mentioned above predominantly focus on the surname's origins and notable figures from the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bhardwaj

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

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

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

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