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

Sahi, 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 Sahi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sahi in America

Sahi is the 54637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sahi surname appeared 377 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 Sahi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sahi 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 Sahi

The surname SAHI has its origins in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word 'sahi', meaning 'brave' or 'courageous'. The name was likely adopted by warriors or soldiers in ancient times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SAHI can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It mentions a nobleman named Rai Sahi, who served as a commander in the imperial army.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name SAHI was prominent among the Punjabi Khatri community, which was traditionally involved in trade and commerce. Several wealthy merchants and landowners bore this surname, as evidenced by historical records and inscriptions on buildings and monuments.

In the 19th century, a notable figure named Sahi Ram Sahi (1830-1895) gained recognition as a poet and scholar in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Sikh Empire. His works, written in Punjabi and Persian, are still studied today.

Another prominent individual with the surname SAHI was Lala Sahi Mal (1855-1921), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Amritsar. He established several educational institutions and played a significant role in the development of the city's textile industry.

In more recent times, Kiran Sahi (born 1952) is a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the field of Kathak, a classical dance form originating in northern India.

The surname SAHI has also been associated with various place names in the Punjab region. For instance, the town of Sahiwal in present-day Pakistan is believed to have derived its name from the word 'sahi', possibly referring to the brave warriors who once inhabited the area.

Overall, the surname SAHI has a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the bravery, entrepreneurship, and artistic talents of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sahi

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

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

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

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