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

Saraswat, 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 Saraswat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saraswat in America

Saraswat is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saraswat surname appeared 181 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 Saraswat.

The history of the last name Saraswat

The surname Saraswat is of Indian origin, specifically from the western coastal regions of the Indian subcontinent. It traces its roots back to the ancient Hindu community known as the Saraswat Brahmins, who were revered for their scholarly and literary pursuits. The name itself is derived from the Sanskrit word "Saraswati," which refers to the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and arts.

One of the earliest references to the Saraswat community can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Puranas, which mention them as a prominent Brahmin clan residing in the regions around the Saraswati River. This river, once a mighty watercourse, is believed to have been venerated by the Vedic civilization and played a significant role in the cultural and religious life of the Saraswat Brahmins.

The historical records of the Saraswat community can be traced back to the 8th century CE, when they are mentioned in various inscriptions and copper plate grants issued by the ruling dynasties of the time. These inscriptions often referred to them as "Saraswatdeshiya" or "Saraswatmatsya," indicating their association with the Saraswati region and their reverence for the goddess Saraswati.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Saraswat was Shridhara Venkatesa Saraswat (1490-1570), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and prolific writer who authored several works on Hindu philosophy and religious texts. Another notable figure was Govindaswami Saraswat (1537-1617), a prominent Vedanta philosopher and teacher who established several educational institutions in southern India.

During the medieval period, the Saraswat community played a significant role in preserving and propagating Indian culture and learning. Several influential scholars and authors emerged from this community, including Madhava Saraswat (1340-1420), a renowned logician and philosopher, and Govinda Bhattacharya Saraswat (1537-1617), a celebrated literary figure and poet.

In the modern era, the Saraswat surname has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Swami Satyananda Saraswati (1884-1960), a renowned Hindu spiritual leader and founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, and Vinoba Bhave (1895-1982), a revered social reformer and spiritual teacher who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement.

While the Saraswat community has its roots in the western coastal regions of India, over the centuries, they have dispersed across various parts of the subcontinent, as well as to other parts of the world. The surname Saraswat continues to be closely associated with the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of the Indian civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saraswat

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

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 Saraswat 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.

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

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

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