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

Shani, 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 Shani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shani in America

Shani is the 112568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shani surname appeared 156 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 Shani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shani 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 Shani

The surname SHANI has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of modern-day India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th to 12th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shani," which refers to the planet Saturn in Hindu astrology and mythology.

In ancient Indian texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, there are references to individuals bearing the name SHANI or its variations. One notable example is Shani Deva, the personification of the planet Saturn in Hindu mythology. This deity was revered as a powerful celestial being capable of bestowing both fortune and misfortune upon mortals.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SHANI can be traced back to various historical records and inscriptions from the medieval period. For instance, the Prabandha-Chintamani, a 14th-century biographical work, mentions a poet named Shani Saheb, who lived during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty in present-day Karnataka, India.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname SHANI. One prominent figure was Shani Nandan, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet from the 16th century. He was born in the town of Chanderi, in present-day Madhya Pradesh, and authored several literary works, including the Rasika-Priya, a treatise on poetics.

Another individual of note was Shani Bhushan, a 17th-century astrologer and mathematician from the city of Varanasi. He is credited with writing several texts on astronomy and astrological calculations, some of which are still studied and referenced today.

In the 18th century, Shani Govind was a prominent figure in the Maratha Empire. He served as a military commander and was instrumental in several crucial battles against the Mughal forces during the reign of the Peshwa rulers.

Moving into the modern era, one cannot overlook the contributions of Shani Shingnapur, a revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement. Born in 1890 in the village of Shingnapur, he dedicated his life to the cause of freedom and was a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent principles.

Another noteworthy individual was Shani Mukherjee, a renowned artist and sculptor from the 20th century. Born in Kolkata in 1923, Mukherjee's works blended traditional Indian motifs with modern artistic sensibilities, earning him widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shani

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

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

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

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