Garai
An East Indian surname of uncertain origin, possibly from a village name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Garai. That puts it at #147,253 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Garai 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#147,253
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Garai in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147253rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Garai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (9.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Garai
The surname GARAI has its origins in Hungary, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Hungarian word "gar," which means "heron" or "egret." The name likely referred to someone who either lived near a place where these birds were found or had a physical resemblance to them.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GARAI surname can be found in the Anjou-korból származó Okmánytár, a collection of Hungarian documents from the Angevin period (1301-1387). This suggests that the name was already established in Hungary by the 14th century.
The GARAI family was a prominent noble family in medieval Hungary. They held lands in various parts of the country, including the regions of Szepes (now part of Slovakia) and Baranya. Several members of the family held influential positions, such as palatines (the highest-ranking officials after the king) and bans (regional governors).
One notable member of the GARAI family was Miklós Garai, who served as the Palatine of Hungary from 1345 to 1356. He played a significant role in the Hungarian court during the reigns of Kings Charles I and Louis I of Hungary.
Another prominent figure was László Garai, who was the Palatine of Hungary from 1447 to 1458. He was a key supporter of King Ladislaus V of Hungary and Bohemia, and was influential in the politics of the region during the Hunyadi era.
The GARAI surname also appears in historical records outside of Hungary. In the 15th century, a branch of the family settled in the Kingdom of Naples (modern-day Italy), where they were known as the Garay or Garai family. One member, Eleazar Garay, was a prominent military leader who served under King Alfonso V of Aragon and Naples in the early 15th century.
Other notable individuals with the GARAI surname include János Garai (c. 1370-1429), who was the Bishop of Veszprém and a prominent figure in the Hungarian Catholic Church during the early 15th century, and Miklós Garai (c. 1410-1459), who served as the Ban of Macsó (a region in modern-day Serbia) in the mid-15th century.
While the GARAI surname has its roots in Hungary and has been associated with noble families and prominent historical figures, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Garai
Among Census respondents with the surname Garai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (9.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Garai 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 Garai surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White60.7%
- Hispanic or Latino29.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander9.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Garai 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #147,253 | #147,253 | 0.0% |
| Count | 112 | 112 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Garai bearers went from 112 to 112 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #147,253.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Garai
FAQ
Garai surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Garai?
The surname Garai holds position #147,253 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Garai surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Garai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (9.8%). 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.