2000
#46,944
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 426
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.16
Rare Last name
Darji
An occupational surname originating from India referring to a tailor.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,690 Americans carry the last name Darji. That puts it at #18,518 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.49 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 202,813 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Darji 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 Darji with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
1.7K
1 in 202,813
Census rank
#18,518
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,474 bearers of the surname Darji in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18518th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Darji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Darji
The surname Darji originated in India, specifically in the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Persian word "darzi," meaning "tailor" or "seamster." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as tailors or engaged in sewing and garment-making professions.
Historically, the name Darji can be traced back to records from the 13th century, when it appeared in various administrative documents and trade registers of the Delhi Sultanate. During this time, the name was often spelled as "Darzee" or "Darzi," reflecting the influence of Persian and Arabic languages on the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest known references to the name Darji can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative manual commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions several individuals bearing the surname Darji, who held positions as tailors and garment makers in the imperial court.
In the 17th century, the name Darji gained prominence among the skilled artisans and textile workers in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which was renowned for its textile industry. During this period, the Darji community established itself as a distinct caste or occupational group, often associated with tailoring and garment production.
Notable individuals with the surname Darji throughout history include Naranji Darji, a renowned tailor and textile designer who lived in Ahmedabad during the late 16th century. His intricate designs and embroidery work were highly sought after by the Mughal nobility.
Another prominent figure was Viram Darji, a skilled tailor and entrepreneur from Rajasthan, who established a successful textile business in the early 19th century. His enterprise played a crucial role in reviving traditional textile techniques and promoting the local garment industry.
In the 20th century, Jayantilal Darji, a social reformer and activist from Gujarat, gained recognition for his efforts in promoting education and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, including the Darji caste.
Dhiren Darji, born in 1945, was a celebrated fashion designer and pioneer of contemporary Indian couture. His innovative designs blended traditional Indian textiles and techniques with modern aesthetics, earning him widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally.
It is worth noting that while the surname Darji has its roots in the tailoring profession, over time, individuals bearing this name have diversified into various occupations and fields, reflecting the evolving socio-economic dynamics of Indian society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Darji
Among Census respondents with the surname Darji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Darji 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 Darji surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.4% · 1,391
- White1.9% · 28
- Two or more races1.6% · 24
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 13
- Black or African American0.6% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Darji
Darji 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
#30,600
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 762
+336 bearers (+78.9%)
Per 100,000 0.26
Rank movement Up 16,344 places
2020
#18,518
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,474
+712 bearers (+93.4%)
Per 100,000 0.49
Rank movement Up 12,082 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #46,944 | 426 | 0.16 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #30,600 | 762 | 0.26 | +336 bearers (+78.9%) | Up 16,344 places |
| 2020 | #18,518 | 1,474 | 0.49 | +712 bearers (+93.4%) | Up 12,082 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 Darji 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 | #30,600 | #18,518 | 39.5% |
| Count | 762 | 1,474 | 93.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.49 | 89.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Darji bearers went from 762 to 1,474 (+93.4% change). The surname moved up 12,082 positions in the national ranking, going from #30,600 to #18,518.
FAQ
Darji surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Darji?
Name Census estimates that about 1,690 living Americans carry the surname Darji. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 202,813 residents.
How common is Darji?
Darji ranks #18,518 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.49 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,474 people with the surname Darji. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,690), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.49 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.49 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Darji.
Has Darji become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Darji went from 762 recorded bearers to 1,474. That is an increase of 712 (+93.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #30,600 to #18,518.
What does the Census say about the background of Darji?
Among Census respondents with the surname Darji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.4%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). 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 Darji in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.4% (1,391 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Darji appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.4%), White (1.9%), Two or More Races (1.6%). 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 Darji (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 Darji mean?
An occupational surname originating from India referring to a tailor. 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 Darji (0.49 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 share the surname Darji?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.