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

Sahay, 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 Sahay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sahay in America

Sahay is the 62903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sahay surname appeared 318 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 Sahay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sahay 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 Sahay

The surname Sahay has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of India and Nepal. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "sahaya," which means "helper" or "assistant." The earliest known records of this surname date back to the 12th century CE.

During the medieval period, the Sahay surname was commonly found among scribes, clerks, and administrative officials who served in the courts of various rulers and kingdoms across northern India. The name was often given to individuals who excelled in their roles as assistants or advisors to the nobility and royalty.

One of the earliest documented references to the Sahay surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative manual commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions several individuals with the surname Sahay who held important positions within the imperial administration.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Gokul Sahay served as the chief minister and advisor to the rulers of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar. He played a significant role in the negotiations and treaties between the Mewar rulers and the Mughal Empire.

Another notable individual bearing the Sahay surname was Shyam Sahay, a scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. He authored several works on Sanskrit literature and was renowned for his contributions to the field of linguistics.

During the 19th century, the Sahay surname gained prominence in the region of Awadh (present-day Uttar Pradesh). One of the most influential figures from this period was Lal Sahay, a social reformer and educationist who established several schools and worked towards promoting education among the underprivileged communities.

In more recent times, the Sahay surname has been associated with notable personalities such as Balram Sahay, a freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in India's independence movement, and Raj Sahay, a renowned writer and journalist who was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.

While the Sahay surname has its roots in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the essence of its meaning as "helper" or "assistant" remains a testament to the historical significance and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sahay

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

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

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

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