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

Chait, 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 Chait surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chait in America

Chait is the 30735th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chait surname appeared 758 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 Chait.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chait 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 Chait

The surname "CHAIT" originated in India, specifically in the northern region of Punjab, around the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "chitra," which means "bright" or "brilliant," suggesting that the name may have been given to individuals with a radiant or intelligent demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 17th century, when it appeared in various Sanskrit manuscripts and historical records from the Mughal Empire. One notable individual bearing this surname was Raja Chait Singh, a prominent Rajput ruler who governed the princely state of Bundi in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name was also found in the Punjab region, particularly among the Khatri community, which was known for its mercantile and trading activities. During this time, the surname may have been associated with successful merchants or businessmen.

One of the earliest documented references to the name "CHAIT" can be found in the writings of the Sikh scholar and poet, Bhai Gurdas, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He mentioned individuals with this surname in his literary works, which provide valuable insights into the cultural and social landscape of that era.

Another notable figure with the surname "CHAIT" was Raja Ram Chait, a wealthy merchant and landowner from the city of Lahore during the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the local economy and was known for his philanthropic endeavors.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence in the field of literature and education. One prominent individual was Pandit Shiv Chait, a renowned scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the Sanskrit language and literature. He was born in the early 1800s and authored several influential works.

Another notable figure from this era was Lala Chait Ram, a prominent educationist and social reformer from Punjab. He was born in the mid-19th century and played a crucial role in establishing educational institutions and promoting the importance of education in the region.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the surname "CHAIT" became more widely dispersed, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chait

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

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

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

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