2010
#123,064
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 140
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Fatehi
A Sikhism-related surname believed to connect to those who conquered in battle or war.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 229 Americans carry the last name Fatehi. That puts it at #97,359 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,496,744 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fatehi 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.
Bearers in the US
229
1 in 1,496,744
Census rank
#97,359
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
200
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 200 bearers of the surname Fatehi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 97359th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fatehi, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (25.0%) and Two or More Races (11.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fatehi
The surname Fatehi originates from the Indian subcontinent, particularly the regions of Punjab and Sindh. It is believed to have roots in the Persian language, where the word "fateh" means "victory" or "conqueror." This surname likely emerged during the medieval period when Persian influences were prominent in the region.
One of the earliest records of the surname Fatehi can be found in historical documents from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over vast territories of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. These records often mentioned individuals with the Fatehi surname, indicating their presence as administrators, soldiers, or landowners associated with the imperial court.
In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Fatehi Khan served as a military commander under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His exploits and bravery in various battles were documented in historical chronicles of the time, further solidifying the connection between the surname and the concept of victory or conquest.
Another notable individual bearing the surname Fatehi was Maulana Fatehi, a renowned Sufi scholar and poet who lived during the 18th century. His literary works, which reflected the cultural and spiritual traditions of the region, have been preserved and studied by scholars over the centuries.
In the 19th century, a distinguished Fatehi family hailed from the city of Lucknow, which was once the capital of the Nawabs of Awadh. This family played a significant role in the cultural and administrative affairs of the region, leaving behind a legacy that continues to be remembered.
During the British colonial era in India, several individuals with the surname Fatehi served in various capacities within the colonial administration. One such figure was Sir Fatehi Khan, who held a high-ranking position in the British Indian Army and was recognized for his military service with honors and titles.
While the surname Fatehi has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, carrying with them the rich cultural heritage and historical significance associated with their name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fatehi
Among Census respondents with the surname Fatehi, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (25.0%) and Two or More Races (11.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Fatehi 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 Fatehi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.5% · 125
- Asian and Pacific Islander25.0% · 50
- Two or more races11.0% · 22
- Hispanic or Latino1.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fatehi
Fatehi appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#97,359
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 200
+60 bearers (+42.9%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Up 25,705 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #123,064 | 140 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #97,359 | 200 | 0.07 | +60 bearers (+42.9%) | Up 25,705 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 Fatehi 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 | #123,064 | #97,359 | 20.9% |
| Count | 140 | 200 | 42.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.07 | 33.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fatehi bearers went from 140 to 200 (+42.9% change). The surname moved up 25,705 positions in the national ranking, going from #123,064 to #97,359.
FAQ
Fatehi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fatehi?
Name Census estimates that about 229 living Americans carry the surname Fatehi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,496,744 residents.
How common is Fatehi?
Fatehi ranks #97,359 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.07 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 200 people with the surname Fatehi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (229), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.07 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.07 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 Fatehi.
Has Fatehi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fatehi went from 140 recorded bearers to 200. That is an increase of 60 (+42.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #123,064 to #97,359.
What does the Census say about the background of Fatehi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fatehi, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (25.0%) and Two or More Races (11.0%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fatehi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 62.5% (125 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fatehi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (62.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (25.0%), Two or More Races (11.0%). 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 Fatehi (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 Fatehi mean?
A Sikhism-related surname believed to connect to those who conquered in battle or war. 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 Fatehi (0.07 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 have the last name Fatehi?
See how common the surname Fatehi is on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.