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

Sarai, 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 Sarai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sarai in America

Sarai is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sarai surname appeared 241 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 Sarai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sarai 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 Sarai

The surname "SARAI" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language. It is believed to have originated from the word "sarai," which translates to "inn" or "resting place" in many Indian languages. Historically, it was a common practice for individuals to adopt surnames based on their occupations or places of residence, and "SARAI" likely emerged from individuals associated with the operation or ownership of inns or caravanserais along trade routes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the 16th-century Persian manuscript, the "Akbarnama," which chronicles the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The manuscript mentions a courtier named Sarai Khan, who served as a military commander under Akbar's rule. This historical reference suggests that the surname was already in use during the Mughal period in the Indian subcontinent.

During the British colonial era in India, the surname "SARAI" gained further recognition. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Raj Sarai (1870-1942), a prominent Indian lawyer and political activist who advocated for Indian independence and social reforms. Another notable figure was Sir Shadi Lal Sarai (1876-1950), a distinguished civil servant in British India who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab from 1938 to 1943.

In more recent history, Bhai Vir Singh Sarai (1872-1957) was a prominent Sikh scholar, theologian, and writer who played a significant role in the revival of Punjabi literature and the promotion of Sikhism. His works, such as the acclaimed novel "Sundari," have left a lasting impact on Punjabi culture and literature.

Additionally, the surname "SARAI" has been associated with various place names in the Indian subcontinent. For instance, the town of Sarai Alamgir in present-day Pakistan was named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, whose birth name was Alamgir. The town's name likely originated from the presence of a sarai or inn during the Mughal era.

It is worth noting that the surname "SARAI" has also been found in other regions, possibly due to migration and cultural exchange. For example, Harjeet Sarai (born 1977) is a British writer and playwright of Indian descent, born in London. This suggests that the surname has traveled beyond its original geographic boundaries over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sarai

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

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

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

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