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

Guri, 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 Guri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guri in America

Guri is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guri surname appeared 115 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 Guri.

The history of the last name Guri

The surname GURI has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, more specifically in the Punjab region of present-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "guru," which means "teacher" or "spiritual guide." This etymology suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who were revered as teachers or spiritual leaders within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname GURI can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the Mughal Empire. One notable example is the mention of a Sikh warrior named Bhai Guri in the Janam Sakhi, a collection of biographical accounts of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

During the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605), several individuals with the surname GURI were documented as holding important positions within the imperial administration. One such individual was Mirza Guri Beg, who served as a governor and military commander under Akbar's rule.

In the 18th century, the GURI surname gained further prominence in the region with the rise of the Sikh Empire under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839). One of his most trusted generals was Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837), who hailed from the GURI clan and played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of the empire.

Another notable figure with the GURI surname was Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), a renowned Sikh scholar, theologian, and writer. He was instrumental in reviving and promoting Punjabi literature and Sikh philosophy through his prolific writings and educational initiatives.

In more recent times, the GURI surname has also been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. For example, Gurcharan Singh Guri (1923-2008) was a celebrated Punjabi writer and playwright, known for his works that explored societal issues and human emotions.

While the GURI surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance remains deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of the Punjab region, particularly within the Sikh community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guri

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

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 Guri 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!