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

Rastogi, 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 Rastogi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rastogi in America

Rastogi is the 28587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rastogi surname appeared 834 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 Rastogi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rastogi 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 Rastogi

The surname Rastogi has its origins in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Rast' meaning 'path' or 'way' and 'Og' meaning 'to go' or 'to follow'. The name is believed to have first emerged in the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, during the medieval period.

The Rastogi surname is closely associated with the Vaishya community, one of the four traditional castes in Hinduism. Historically, the Rastogis were known to be traders and merchants, often traveling along trade routes and establishing businesses in various parts of the country. Their name reflects this nomadic lifestyle and their occupation as travelers and traders.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Rastogi surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document lists several Rastogi individuals who held positions of importance in the Mughal court and administration.

In the 17th century, the Rastogi family gained prominence in the city of Jaunpur, a major trading center in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Renowned Rastogi scholars and poets, such as Govind Das Rastogi (1617-1693), contributed significantly to the literary and cultural landscape of the region.

Another notable figure from the Rastogi lineage was Rai Munshi Bhola Nath Rastogi (1810-1873), a renowned scholar and author who served as the chief minister (Diwan) of the princely state of Awadh (present-day Uttar Pradesh) during the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

In the 19th century, the Rastogis expanded their presence across various parts of India, with many families settling in cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata, where they continued their mercantile activities and established successful business ventures.

One of the most influential Rastogis of the modern era was Dr. Govind Ballabh Pant (1887-1961), a prominent freedom fighter, statesman, and the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after India's independence. His contributions to the Indian independence movement and his political leadership left a lasting impact on the nation's history.

Throughout its history, the Rastogi surname has been associated with a rich cultural heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong emphasis on education and intellectual pursuits. While the name has its roots in northern India, Rastogis can now be found across the globe, carrying forward their ancestral legacy and making significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rastogi

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rastogi, 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!