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

Ghai, 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 Ghai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ghai in America

Ghai is the 46404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ghai surname appeared 459 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ghai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ghai 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 Ghai

The surname GHAI is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of Punjab and Haryana. Its roots can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language, where "Ghai" or "Ghay" was a term used to denote a person skilled in handling cattle or a cowherd.

In the medieval era, the GHAI surname was prevalent among various Hindu and Sikh communities in Punjab and its surrounding areas. Some historical records indicate that the name was particularly common among certain Jat clans, who were known for their agricultural and pastoral lifestyles.

One of the earliest documented references to the GHAI surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions individuals with the GHAI surname as landowners and members of the rural nobility in the regions of Punjab and Haryana.

During the Mughal period, the GHAI surname also appeared in various land revenue records and administrative documents, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name across various villages and towns in northern India.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals with the GHAI surname emerged, contributing to various fields. One such figure was Lala Bhagwan Das GHAI (1823-1897), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Amritsar, who played a significant role in the development of the city's textile industry.

Another notable person was Sardar Bahadur Harnam Singh GHAI (1871-1948), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Indian Army and was awarded the prestigious Order of British India for his valor and leadership during World War I.

In the realm of literature, the GHAI surname found representation through writers like Kunwar Mohinder Singh GHAI (1892-1974), a prolific Punjabi poet and novelist known for his works that explored themes of rural life and Punjabi culture.

Moving into the 20th century, the GHAI surname gained international recognition through individuals such as the acclaimed Bollywood film director and producer, Subhash GHAI (born 1945), whose movies have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

Additionally, Dr. Pushpinder Singh GHAI (born 1952) is a renowned cardiologist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of interventional cardiology, particularly in the development of advanced stenting techniques.

While the GHAI surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread across the globe due to migration and the diaspora, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of different societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ghai

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

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

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

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