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

Purohit, 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 Purohit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purohit in America

Purohit is the 23750th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purohit surname appeared 1,065 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 Purohit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Purohit 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 Purohit

The surname Purohit originates from India, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Purā' meaning 'before' and 'hita' meaning 'placed' or 'put'. The name Purohit refers to a Hindu priest or spiritual guide who performs religious rituals and ceremonies.

In the ancient Vedic tradition, Purohits held a revered position in society, acting as advisors to kings and nobility. They were responsible for conducting sacred rites, interpreting religious texts, and guiding the spiritual well-being of the community. The name Purohit is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of India and the enduring traditions of Hinduism.

Historical references to individuals bearing the Purohit surname can be found in various ancient texts and manuscripts. One prominent example is the 14th-century text 'Rajatarangini', which chronicles the history of Kashmir and mentions several Purohits who served as advisors and priests to the ruling dynasties.

The earliest recorded instances of the Purohit name can be traced back to the 8th century CE, with notable figures such as Bhavabhuti Purohit, a celebrated Sanskrit scholar and poet who authored the play 'Uttararamacharita'. Another influential Purohit was Vidyapati Purohit (1352-1448), a renowned poet and writer from the Maithili literary tradition.

Throughout history, the Purohit surname has been associated with various place names and regions across India. For instance, the town of Purohitpur in Uttar Pradesh and the village of Purohitgaon in Maharashtra bear the name, suggesting the presence of Purohit communities in these areas.

Among the notable individuals with the Purohit surname are:

1. Chandrashekhara Purohit (1480-1560), a prominent astrologer and scholar from the Vijayanagara Empire.
2. Rajeshwar Purohit (1756-1836), a Sanskrit scholar and poet from Rajasthan.
3. Govardhan Purohit (1828-1891), a social reformer and educationist from Madhya Pradesh.
4. Vinayak Damodar Purohit (1858-1918), a renowned Indian linguist and scholar of Marathi literature.
5. Keshav Purohit (1900-1982), a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and author from Rajasthan.

The Purohit surname has a rich and enduring legacy, deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual traditions of India. Its association with the role of priests and spiritual guides has shaped its historical significance and continues to be a source of pride for those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purohit

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

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

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

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