Chaudhri
A hereditary title or surname used by some Hindu castes, particularly in Punjab.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Chaudhri. That puts it at #54,752 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chaudhri surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#54,752
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
376
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 376 bearers of the surname Chaudhri in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54752nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaudhri, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (6.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chaudhri
The surname Chaudhri originated in India and is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chaudhari," which means a holder of a superior rank or a landowner. This surname traces its roots back to ancient times when it was associated with the powerful landowning class in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent.
The name Chaudhri has its origins in the Punjab region of present-day India and Pakistan. It was initially used by the dominant agricultural communities who held significant land holdings and enjoyed a prominent social status. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in medieval manuscripts and administrative records from the 12th century onwards.
One notable mention of the name Chaudhri is in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document provides a detailed account of the revenue system and social hierarchy of the time, where the Chaudhris were recognized as influential landowners and local leaders.
In the early 18th century, during the reign of the Sikh Empire, the Chaudhri surname gained further prominence. Several prominent figures from this era carried the Chaudhri surname, including Chaudhri Nand Singh (1690-1753), a renowned military commander and trusted advisor to the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Another notable Chaudhri was Chaudhri Rehmat Ali (1897-1951), a prominent scholar and political activist who is credited with coining the term "Pakistan" in his pamphlet "Now or Never" published in 1933. He advocated for the creation of an independent Muslim state in the northwestern regions of British India.
The Chaudhri surname has also been associated with several other historical figures, including Chaudhri Chhotu Ram (1881-1945), a prominent leader of the Indian peasant movement and a proponent of agricultural reforms in the early 20th century.
Over the centuries, the Chaudhri surname has maintained its association with landed gentry and influential families, particularly in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. While the name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Chaudhari, Chowdhry, and Choudhary, its core meaning and historical significance remain rooted in the landowning and leadership traditions of ancient India.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chaudhri
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaudhri, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (6.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Chaudhri bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Chaudhri surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander84.6%
- White7.7%
- Two or more races6.4%
- Unknown or suppressed1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Chaudhri surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #68,973 | #54,752 | 20.6% |
| Count | 266 | 376 | 41.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.13 | 30.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Chaudhri bearers went from 266 to 376 (+41.4% change). The surname moved up 14,221 positions in the national ranking, going from #68,973 to #54,752.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chaudhri
FAQ
Chaudhri surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Chaudhri?
The surname Chaudhri holds position #54,752 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Chaudhri surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaudhri, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (6.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.