Samdani last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Samdani

A surname of Indian or Bengali origin meaning leader or chief.

Samdani, 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 Samdani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samdani in America

Samdani is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samdani surname appeared 106 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 Samdani.

The history of the last name Samdani

The surname SAMDANI originated in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "samudra," which means "ocean" or "sea." This name was likely adopted by individuals who lived near the coast or were associated with maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SAMDANI can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This work mentions a village called "Samdani" located in the region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India.

In the 17th century, the name SAMDANI appeared in several Persian manuscripts and chronicles, indicating that individuals bearing this surname held positions of significance during the Mughal era. One notable figure was Mirza Samdani, a courtier and poet who lived in the court of Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666).

During the British Raj, the SAMDANI surname was prevalent among Muslim families residing in the Bengal region, which is now divided between Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. One prominent individual from this period was Khwaja Muhammad Samdani (1850-1931), a renowned Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic from Sylhet, Bangladesh.

In the early 20th century, the SAMDANI name gained recognition through the works of Abul Hussain Samdani (1901-1944), a Bengali writer and journalist who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of undivided Bengal. His writings focused on social reform and advocated for the rights of marginalized communities.

Another notable figure was Sayyid Samdani Ali Shah (1888-1976), a prominent Sufi saint and spiritual leader from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. He established several educational institutions and played a crucial role in promoting Islamic education and spirituality.

The SAMDANI surname has also been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Syed Ismail Samdani (1921-2019) was a renowned Bangladeshi architect and urban planner, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the development of modern architecture in South Asia.

While the surname SAMDANI originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly among the South Asian diaspora. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply connected to the region's rich cultural heritage and maritime traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samdani

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

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 Samdani was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 98.11% 104
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Samdani last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/samdani-surname-popularity/.

"Samdani last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/samdani-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Samdani last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/samdani-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.