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

Sadhu, 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 Sadhu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sadhu in America

Sadhu is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sadhu surname appeared 229 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 Sadhu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sadhu 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 Sadhu

The surname "SADHU" originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of present-day India and Nepal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th to 12th centuries.

The name "SADHU" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sadhu," which means a holy man, a sage, or a wandering ascetic. In ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions, sadhus were revered spiritual seekers who renounced worldly possessions and devoted themselves to spiritual practices and self-realization.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SADHU" can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and manuscripts, where it was often used to refer to renowned sages and spiritual leaders. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the precise individuals who first adopted the surname, as records from that era are scarce and often incomplete.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname "SADHU." One such person was Sadhu Singh Hamdard (1908-2003), a renowned Indian scholar, historian, and philanthropist who founded the Hamdard University in Delhi.

Another prominent figure was Sadhu Vaswani (1879-1966), a renowned Indian spiritual leader and author who founded the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting interfaith harmony and universal spiritual values.

In the 19th century, Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929) was a famous Indian Christian missionary and mystic who traveled extensively across India, advocating for religious tolerance and spreading the teachings of Christianity.

The name "SADHU" has also been associated with various places and geographical locations in India and Nepal. For instance, the village of Sadhu Bet in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is believed to have derived its name from the presence of sadhus or ascetics in the area.

Another example is the Sadhu Khola, a river in eastern Nepal that flows through the Solukhumbu District, known for its picturesque landscapes and trekking routes.

While the surname "SADHU" has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Indian diaspora populations. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains deeply rooted in the spiritual traditions of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sadhu

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

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

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

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