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

Kavi, 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 Kavi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kavi in America

Kavi is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kavi surname appeared 114 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 Kavi.

The history of the last name Kavi

The surname "KAVI" is believed to have originated in India, with roots dating back to the ancient Sanskrit language. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "kavi," which translates to "poet" or "wise person," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals revered for their literary or scholarly pursuits.

During the medieval period, the name "KAVI" was found in various historical records and manuscripts from the Indian subcontinent. One notable mention is in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal emperor Akbar, which listed individuals with this surname among the ranks of court poets and scholars.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name "KAVI" is believed to be Kalidasa, a renowned Indian poet and playwright who lived in the 4th or 5th century CE. His works, such as the epic poem Raghuvamsa and the play Abhijnanashakuntalam, are considered masterpieces of Sanskrit literature and have been widely studied and translated.

Another notable figure with the surname "KAVI" was Kumaradasa Kavi, a 16th-century Bengali poet and scholar from the region of Bengal. His works, written in the Bengali language, explored themes of devotion and spirituality and were influential in shaping the literary landscape of the time.

In the 18th century, Vidyapati Kavi, a celebrated Sanskrit poet and scholar from the Mithila region of Bihar, gained renown for his lyrical compositions and his contributions to the Maithili language and literature.

During the 19th century, Bharatendu Harishchandra Kavi, a prominent Hindi writer and playwright from the state of Uttar Pradesh, played a pivotal role in the revival of modern Hindi literature. His works, including plays and novels, addressed social issues and advocated for the use of Hindi as a literary language.

It is worth noting that the surname "KAVI" may have evolved from place names or older spellings of place names in various regions of India, reflecting the geographic diversity of its bearers. However, the precise origins and historical references of the name may vary across different sources and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kavi

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

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

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

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