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

Sahu, 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 Sahu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sahu in America

Sahu is the 32396th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sahu surname appeared 710 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 Sahu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sahu 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 Sahu

The surname SAHU is of Indian origin, particularly from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in northern India. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries.

SAHU is derived from the Sanskrit word "Sadhu," which means an ascetic or a holy person. It was likely a title or honorific bestowed upon learned individuals, scholars, or religious figures, which later became a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAHU surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It mentions several individuals bearing the SAHU surname, suggesting its widespread use during that period.

The SAHU name has also been linked to the historic city of Varanasi, a prominent center of learning and spirituality in India. Some historical records indicate that many scholars and religious leaders from Varanasi adopted the SAHU surname, further reinforcing its association with knowledge and piety.

Notable individuals with the SAHU surname throughout history include:

1. Pandit Vishwambhar Nath SAHU (1828-1895), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author of several literary works.
2. Shyamacharan SAHU (1835-1904), a prominent educator and social reformer from Odisha, who played a significant role in promoting women's education.
3. Lakshmi Narayan SAHU (1887-1957), a freedom fighter and prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.
4. Harishankar SAHU (1903-1968), a celebrated poet and writer in the Odia language, known for his influential works exploring social themes.
5. Balgovind SAHU (1919-2012), a distinguished mathematician and academician who made significant contributions to the field of combinatorics.

While the SAHU surname has its roots in northern India, it has now spread across various regions and communities within the country. However, it remains closely associated with its origins as a name reflecting scholarship, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sahu

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

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

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

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