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

Sah, 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 Sah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sah in America

Sah is the 51066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sah surname appeared 408 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 Sah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sah 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 Sah

The surname "Sah" is believed to have originated in the region of Punjab, which is now divided between India and Pakistan. It traces its roots back to the Sanskrit language, where the word "sah" means "lord" or "master." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

During the medieval period, the name "Sah" appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the region, particularly in texts related to land ownership and taxation. One notable example is the "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, which listed several individuals bearing the surname "Sah."

The earliest recorded instance of the name "Sah" can be found in the "Chachnama," a historical text written in the 8th century that chronicles the Arab conquest of Sindh. The text mentions a local ruler named Raja Sahasi, whose name is believed to be a variation of "Sah."

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Rai Shankar Sah served as the governor of Lahore under the Delhi Sultanate. His name is inscribed on various architectural structures and inscriptions from that period.

During the Mughal era, the "Sah" surname gained further prominence, with several individuals bearing the name holding important positions in the imperial administration. One notable example is Mir Sah, a courtier and poet who lived during the reign of Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

In more recent history, the "Sah" surname has been associated with several influential figures. Lala Lajpat Rai Sah (1865-1928) was a renowned Indian independence activist, author, and politician who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement.

Another prominent individual was Dr. Manmohan Sah (1932-2017), an Indian economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014.

Sukhpal Singh Sah (1913-1988) was a highly decorated Indian military officer who played a crucial role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

While the surname "Sah" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has also been adopted by individuals of various ethnic backgrounds and nationalities over time, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations that have shaped the region's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sah

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

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

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

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