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

Sardesai, 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 Sardesai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sardesai in America

Sardesai is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sardesai surname appeared 104 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 Sardesai.

The history of the last name Sardesai

The surname Sardesai finds its origins in the Indian state of Goa, which was once a Portuguese colony. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit words "Sardhesh" and "Sardheshi," meaning "chief" or "headman." The name likely originated during the medieval period when surnames were becoming more prevalent in India.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sardesai name appears in the 16th century, when the Portuguese chronicler Gaspar Correia mentioned a "Sardesai" family in his writings about Goa. This suggests that the Sardesai lineage had already established itself as a prominent clan in the region by that time.

The name Sardesai has also been associated with the village of Savoi-Verem in Goa, which was once known as "Sardesai-Vere" or "Sardesai Village." This connection implies that the Sardesai family may have held significant influence or landholdings in that area during the region's early history.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Sardesai surname. One of the earliest was Govind Sakharam Sardesai (1865-1959), a renowned historian and author who wrote extensively about the history and culture of Goa. His work, "A History of the Maratha People," published in 1946, remains a seminal text on the subject.

Another prominent figure was Vasantrao Sardesai (1891-1973), a freedom fighter and politician who played a pivotal role in India's independence movement. He served as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile Bombay State from 1963 to 1965.

In the realm of literature, Ranjit Sardesai (1924-2005) was a celebrated author and journalist. His novel "The Dunes Grew Tall" (1962) received critical acclaim and shed light on the lives of Indian expatriates in East Africa.

The Sardesai name has also made its mark in the field of sports. Dilip Sardesai (1940-2007) was a renowned Indian cricketer who played for the national team in the 1960s and 1970s. He was part of the historic Indian squad that won the West Indies tour in 1971, a feat that was considered a watershed moment in Indian cricket.

Another notable figure was Gerson Sardesai (1930-2013), a distinguished jurist who served as a judge on the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He was known for his erudite judgments and contributions to the field of intellectual property law.

While the Sardesai name may have originated in Goa, it has since spread across India and beyond, with individuals bearing this surname leaving their mark in various fields and professions. Its rich history and association with prominent figures make it a name steeped in the cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sardesai

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sardesai, 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!