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

Shai, 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 Shai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shai in America

Shai is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shai surname appeared 144 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 Shai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shai 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 Shai

The surname SHAI originated in India, specifically in the northern region of Punjab. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Shay," which means "lion." The name likely dates back to the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

SHAI was initially a title or honorific bestowed upon warriors or noblemen known for their bravery and strength, much like the characteristics of a lion. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHAI can be found in the Bhai Vir Singh's "Sri Guru Granth Sahib," a revered Sikh scripture compiled in the 16th century. The text mentions a warrior named Shai Singh, who fought valiantly in battles against the Mughal Empire.

In the 17th century, a renowned Sikh military commander named Bhai Shai Singh played a crucial role in defending the city of Anandpur Sahib from the invading forces of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His bravery and leadership during this siege solidified the SHAI name's association with valor and heroism.

During the British Raj in India, several individuals bearing the SHAI surname made significant contributions. One notable figure was Sir Ranjit SHAI (1872-1949), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and the Punjab Legislative Council.

Another prominent SHAI was Maharaja Bhupinder SHAI (1891-1938), the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala. He was known for his lavish lifestyle and his passion for cricket, having captained the Patiala cricket team.

In more recent times, the SHAI name has been carried by notable personalities such as Karan SHAI (born 1965), an Indian film actor and producer who has starred in numerous Bollywood movies, and Gulzar SHAI (born 1934), a renowned Indian poet, lyricist, and film director who has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan and the Sahitya Akademi Award.

While the SHAI surname originated in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain deeply tied to the rich cultural heritage and history of Punjab, where it first emerged as a symbol of courage and strength.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shai

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

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

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

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