2000
#31,658
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 690
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.26
Rare Last name
Bhavsar
A surname originating from Bhavsar village in Gujarat, India.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,097 Americans carry the last name Bhavsar. That puts it at #15,438 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 163,450 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bhavsar 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Bhavsar with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 163,450
Census rank
#15,438
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,829 bearers of the surname Bhavsar in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15438th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bhavsar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and White (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bhavsar
The surname Bhavsar originates from the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "bhavsa," which translates to "speech" or "utterance." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in public speaking, oratory, or literary pursuits.
The earliest recorded instances of the Bhavsar surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was predominantly found in the regions of Gujarat and Maharashtra. These areas were known for their rich cultural heritage and literary traditions, further reinforcing the potential connection between the name and the art of speech.
One of the earliest documented references to the Bhavsar name can be found in the "Navanathacharitra," a 14th-century Jain literary work composed by Ramachandra Bhavsar, a renowned scholar and writer from Gujarat. Another notable figure bearing this surname was Keshavalal Bhavsar, a prominent poet and literary figure from the 17th century, whose works significantly contributed to the Gujarati literary canon.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Bhavsar surname was associated with several prominent families in the region, some of whom held influential positions in the courts of local rulers. Historical records suggest that the Bhavsars played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the time, often serving as advisors, scribes, and scholars.
In the 18th century, Manidas Bhavsar, a celebrated poet and writer from Maharashtra, gained recognition for his literary contributions, particularly his work titled "Siddhantaleshsangraha," which explored philosophical concepts. Another noteworthy figure was Anantram Bhavsar, a renowned astrologer and scholar from Gujarat, whose work on astrology and astronomy was widely acclaimed.
As the Bhavsar surname spread across India, it became associated with various professions, including education, literature, and administrative roles. Many Bhavsars held positions as teachers, writers, and government officials, reflecting the name's historical ties to the pursuit of knowledge and communication.
While the Bhavsar surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since been carried to various parts of the world by individuals and families of Indian descent, further enriching its cultural and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bhavsar
Among Census respondents with the surname Bhavsar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and White (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bhavsar 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 Bhavsar surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.7% · 1,714
- Two or more races2.8% · 51
- White2.6% · 47
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 9
- Black or African American0.3% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bhavsar
Bhavsar appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#21,105
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,244
+554 bearers (+80.3%)
Per 100,000 0.42
Rank movement Up 10,553 places
2020
#15,438
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,829
+585 bearers (+47.0%)
Per 100,000 0.61
Rank movement Up 5,667 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #31,658 | 690 | 0.26 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #21,105 | 1,244 | 0.42 | +554 bearers (+80.3%) | Up 10,553 places |
| 2020 | #15,438 | 1,829 | 0.61 | +585 bearers (+47.0%) | Up 5,667 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 Bhavsar 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 | #21,105 | #15,438 | 26.9% |
| Count | 1,244 | 1,829 | 47.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.42 | 0.61 | 45.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bhavsar bearers went from 1,244 to 1,829 (+47.0% change). The surname moved up 5,667 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,105 to #15,438.
FAQ
Bhavsar surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bhavsar?
Name Census estimates that about 2,097 living Americans carry the surname Bhavsar. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 163,450 residents.
How common is Bhavsar?
Bhavsar ranks #15,438 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,829 people with the surname Bhavsar. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,097), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.61 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.61 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Bhavsar.
Has Bhavsar become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bhavsar went from 1,244 recorded bearers to 1,829. That is an increase of 585 (+47.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #21,105 to #15,438.
What does the Census say about the background of Bhavsar?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bhavsar, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and White (2.6%). 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 Bhavsar in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.7% (1,714 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bhavsar appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (93.7%), Two or More Races (2.8%), White (2.6%). 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 Bhavsar (2000, 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 Bhavsar mean?
A surname originating from Bhavsar village in Gujarat, India. 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 Bhavsar (0.61 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 people are called Bhavsar?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Bhavsar on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.