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

Saigal, 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 Saigal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saigal in America

Saigal is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saigal surname appeared 216 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 Saigal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saigal 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 Saigal

The surname SAIGAL is of Indian origin, originating from the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Sagara," meaning ocean or sea, suggesting that the early bearers of this name may have lived near the sea or had some connection to maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAIGAL surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the region now known as Punjab and Haryana. During this time, the name was often spelled with variations such as "Saigal," "Seigal," or "Saygal," reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences in the region.

The SAIGAL surname gained prominence during the Mughal Empire, which ruled over significant parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. Several notable individuals with the SAIGAL surname held positions of influence and power within the Mughal administration and military ranks.

One of the most renowned individuals with the SAIGAL surname was Kundan Lal Saigal, a legendary Indian singer and actor widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Cinema." Born in 1904 in Jammu, Kundan Lal Saigal's powerful voice and emotive performances left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry, and he is considered a pioneer of the modern Bollywood music and cinema.

Another notable figure with the SAIGAL surname was Ranjit Saigal, a renowned Indian novelist and short story writer who lived from 1924 to 2008. His works, such as "The Price You Pay" and "Modern Littérateurs of the Punjab," explored themes of social justice, cultural identity, and the complexities of human relationships.

In the field of sports, Harbhajan Saigal was a prominent Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Punjab and represented India in several test matches during the 1960s and 1970s. His contributions to Indian cricket were recognized with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1969.

The SAIGAL surname has also been associated with various place names and localities in the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Some examples include Saigal Kalan, Saigal Khurd, and Saigalpura, which may have been named after individuals or families bearing the SAIGAL surname.

While the SAIGAL surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical and cultural significance of this surname remains deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of Indian history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saigal

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

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

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

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