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

Devi, 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 Devi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Devi in America

Devi is the 18068th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Devi surname appeared 1,543 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 Devi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Devi 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 Devi

The surname Devi originates from India, where it has been in use for centuries. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "devi," which means "goddess" or "divine feminine power." This name is closely associated with Hindu culture and tradition.

In ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, the term "devi" is often used to refer to various goddesses, such as Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. It is a revered and highly respected title, reflecting the spiritual significance and power attributed to the feminine divine.

The earliest records of the surname Devi can be traced back to the 8th century CE, during the Pala Empire in ancient Bengal. It was commonly used by Brahmin families and those with close connections to Hindu temples and religious institutions.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Devi was Rani Devi, a powerful queen who ruled the Ghurid Empire in the 12th century. She was known for her military prowess and her efforts to expand the empire's territories.

Another notable figure was Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, who lived from 1725 to 1795. She was a highly respected ruler of the Malwa kingdom in central India and was renowned for her administrative skills, patronage of arts and culture, and her charitable works.

In the 15th century, the Devi dynasty ruled over parts of present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat. One of the most prominent rulers from this dynasty was Rana Devi Singh, who reigned from 1459 to 1489 and was known for his military campaigns and the construction of several forts and palaces.

The Devi surname was also associated with prominent scholars and poets. Mahadevi Verma, born in 1907, was a renowned Hindi poet and writer who played a significant role in the Chhayavaad literary movement. Her works explored themes of feminism, social injustice, and spiritual enlightenment.

In more recent times, Devi Prasad Tripathi, born in 1926, was a distinguished historian and scholar of ancient Indian history and culture. He made significant contributions to the study of the Vedic period and the history of Hinduism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Devi

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

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

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

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