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

Padhi, 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 Padhi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Padhi in America

Padhi is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Padhi surname appeared 160 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 Padhi.

The history of the last name Padhi

The surname Padhi has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the state of Odisha, formerly known as Orissa. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, derived from the Sanskrit word "padhi," meaning "reader" or "scholar."

The Padhi surname is closely associated with the Brahmin community in Odisha, particularly the Vaidik Brahmins who were renowned for their expertise in Vedic literature and religious scriptures. The earliest known records of this surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when the Ganga and Gajapati rulers patronized scholars and poets bearing this name.

One of the earliest notable figures with the Padhi surname was Govinda Padhi, a renowned poet and scholar who flourished during the reign of King Narasimha Deva I of the Ganga dynasty in the 13th century. His literary works, including the Arka-Prakasha and Chhando-Ratnavali, were highly acclaimed and influential in shaping the literary landscape of Odisha.

In the 16th century, Jagannatha Padhi, a prominent astrologer and scholar, served at the court of the Gajapati kings in Puri. His astrological predictions and writings on astronomy and Vedic sciences earned him widespread recognition and respect.

Another significant figure was Balabhadra Padhi, a 17th-century scholar and poet who authored the famous work Dandi-Kavya, a poetic composition in the Dandi style. His literary contributions were celebrated and influential during his time.

In the 18th century, Dina Krushna Padhi, a distinguished scholar and linguist, made significant contributions to the study of Odia language and literature. His works on grammar, poetry, and translations of Sanskrit texts left a lasting impact on the literary heritage of Odisha.

The Padhi surname has also been associated with the village of Padhi-Padia, located in the Cuttack district of Odisha, which was once a renowned center of learning and scholarship. This village is believed to have been the ancestral home of many Padhi families who were engaged in scholarly pursuits and religious activities.

While the surname Padhi has its roots in Odisha, over time, it has spread to other parts of India, and some individuals with this surname can also be found in other regions. However, the historical and cultural significance of this surname remains deeply rooted in the literary and scholarly traditions of Odisha.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Padhi

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

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

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

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