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

Sai, 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 Sai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sai in America

Sai is the 42308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sai surname appeared 513 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 Sai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sai 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 Sai

The surname SAI has its origins in India, dating back to the ancient Hindu tradition. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word 'Sai', which means 'lord' or 'master'. This name was often used as a title or honorific for revered spiritual leaders and saints.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name SAI can be found in the Upanishads, a collection of ancient Hindu philosophical texts. The name is mentioned in the context of spiritual teachings and wisdom, suggesting its association with enlightenment and divinity.

During the medieval period, the name SAI gained prominence in various parts of India, particularly in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It was often used by followers of the Bhakti movement, a Hindu spiritual tradition that emphasized devotion and love towards the divine.

In the 19th century, a renowned spiritual figure named Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838-1918) became widely venerated across India. His teachings and miracles attracted a large following, and many of his devotees adopted the surname SAI as a mark of reverence and gratitude.

Another notable figure with the surname SAI was Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950), a revolutionary-turned-philosopher and spiritual leader. He played a significant role in India's independence movement and later founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, where he developed his philosophy of integral yoga.

Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), a renowned Hindu spiritual teacher and founder of the Divine Life Society, also carried the surname SAI. His teachings on yoga, meditation, and vedanta philosophy gained widespread popularity, and many of his followers adopted the surname as a symbol of their discipleship.

Other prominent individuals with the surname SAI include Dr. C.V. Raman (1888-1970), a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for his groundbreaking work on the scattering of light, and M.S. Subbulakshmi (1916-2004), a legendary Carnatic musician and Bharat Ratna awardee.

While the surname SAI has its roots in Hindu spirituality and philosophy, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now found among people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs across India and the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sai

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

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

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

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