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

Rai, 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 Rai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rai in America

Rai is the 6418th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rai surname appeared 5,295 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rai 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 Rai

The surname "RAI" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of India and Pakistan. It is an ancient name with roots dating back to the 6th century CE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Raja," which means "king" or "ruler."

In the early medieval period, the RAI surname was associated with various royal and aristocratic families in the region. Some historical accounts suggest that the name was initially adopted by members of the Rajput warrior clans, who claimed descent from the ruling dynasties of ancient India.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAI surname can be found in the Prithviraj Raso, a medieval Sanskrit text that recounts the life and deeds of the legendary Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan (c. 1166-1192 CE). This text mentions several individuals bearing the RAI surname, indicating the name's prominence among the nobility of that era.

During the Mughal period, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, the RAI surname was widely used by Hindu landowners and administrators who held positions of authority under the Mughal emperors. Many of these individuals played significant roles in the regional governance and administration of the Mughal Empire.

Notable historical figures with the RAI surname include Rai Pithora (c. 1345-1418 CE), a renowned Hindu warrior and chieftain who fought against the Delhi Sultanate. Another prominent individual was Rai Singh (1617-1667 CE), a Rajput ruler of the Bikaner region in present-day Rajasthan, India, who was known for his military prowess and administrative skills.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the RAI surname was also found among the landowning and mercantile communities in various parts of northern India and Pakistan. Some prominent individuals from this period include Rai Bahadur Mukund Lal (1832-1907), a renowned Indian businessman and philanthropist, and Rai Ahmad Khan (1856-1933), a prominent Muslim leader and reformist from Punjab, British India.

Over the centuries, the RAI surname has spread beyond its original geographical boundaries and can now be found among various communities and ethnic groups across South Asia and the wider diaspora. However, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rich history and cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rai

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

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

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

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