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

Rishi, 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 Rishi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rishi in America

Rishi is the 72105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rishi surname appeared 270 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 Rishi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rishi 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 Rishi

The surname RISHI is believed to have originated in India during ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "rishi," meaning a sage, seer, or wise person who has attained spiritual knowledge. The name is closely associated with the revered rishis mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads.

RISHI was a title bestowed upon the most learned and enlightened individuals in Indian society, who were considered guides and teachers in spiritual and philosophical matters. These rishis played a significant role in preserving and passing down the ancient wisdom and knowledge through oral and written traditions.

Some of the earliest recorded examples of the name RISHI can be found in ancient Indian texts, such as the Rig Veda, which dates back to around 1500-1200 BCE. The Rig Veda mentions several rishis, including Vishvamitra, Vashishtha, and Bharadvaja, who were revered for their profound insights and contributions to the development of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practices.

Throughout the centuries, the name RISHI has been associated with numerous prominent individuals in Indian history. One notable example is Rishi Valmiki, the renowned author of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, which is believed to have been composed around the 5th century BCE.

Another significant historical figure with the name RISHI is Rishi Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras, a seminal work on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Patanjali is considered the father of yoga and is believed to have lived between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE.

Rishi Kanada, the founder of the Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy, is also an important figure associated with the name RISHI. He is credited with developing the atomic theory and the concept of cause and effect, and is believed to have lived around the 6th century BCE.

In the medieval period, Rishi Shankaracharya, also known as Adi Shankara, was a prominent Hindu philosopher and theologian who revived and consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy. He lived between 788-820 CE and had a profound impact on the development of Hinduism.

Rishi Aurobindo, a renowned Indian philosopher, yogi, and spiritual leader, was another influential figure who carried the name RISHI. He lived from 1872 to 1950 and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement before turning his focus towards spiritual and philosophical pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rishi

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

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

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

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