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

Shaji, 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 Shaji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shaji in America

Shaji is the 71678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shaji surname appeared 272 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 Shaji.

The history of the last name Shaji

The surname "SHAJI" is believed to have originated in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "shaji," which means "lotus" or "water lily." The name first appeared in historical records from the 15th century, when it was primarily used by members of the Nair community, a prominent Hindu caste in Kerala.

During the medieval period, the Nair community played a significant role in the military and administrative systems of the region's feudal kingdoms. Many Nair families adopted surnames based on their ancestral homes, occupations, or personal characteristics, and "SHAJI" likely emerged as a surname during this time.

One of the earliest known mentions of the surname "SHAJI" can be found in the records of the Zamorin of Calicut, a powerful ruler who controlled much of the Malabar Coast in the 15th century. These records document a Nair warrior named Shaji Nair, who served in the Zamorin's army and was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle.

Another notable figure with the surname "SHAJI" was Shaji Payyanad, a 16th-century poet and scholar who authored several works in the Malayalam language. His most famous work, "Shaji Ramayanam," was a poetic retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana.

In the 18th century, a Nair chieftain named Shaji Raja led a rebellion against the East India Company in the region of Thalassery, now part of modern-day Kerala. Although the rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, Shaji Raja's defiance against colonial rule has been celebrated in local folklore and literature.

During the 19th century, the surname "SHAJI" became more widespread as members of the Nair community migrated to other parts of India and abroad. One notable figure from this period was Shaji Viswanath Shastri (1826-1898), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author who made significant contributions to the study of Indian philosophy and literature.

In the 20th century, individuals with the surname "SHAJI" have excelled in various fields, including arts, sports, and politics. For instance, Shaji N. Karun (born 1952) is a celebrated Indian filmmaker known for his innovative and artistic approach to cinema, while Shaji Prabhakaran (born 1972) is a former professional football player who represented the Indian national team.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shaji

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

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

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

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