Shanti last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Shanti

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word meaning peace, tranquility or calmness.

Shanti, 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 Shanti surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shanti in America

Shanti is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shanti surname appeared 129 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 Shanti.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shanti 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 131379 147095 -11.29%
Count 129 103 22.41%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Shanti

The surname SHANTI has its origins rooted in the Indian subcontinent, with the name believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word 'shanti,' which translates to 'peace' or 'tranquility.' The name's earliest known usage can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often associated with spiritual and philosophical concepts.

In the historical context, SHANTI was predominantly found in regions that are now part of modern-day India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The name gained prominence during the medieval period, particularly within certain Hindu and Buddhist communities, where it was often bestowed upon individuals who were considered to possess a calm and peaceful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHANTI can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic dating back to around the 8th century BCE. In this epic, the name appears in reference to a character who embodied the virtues of peace and serenity.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname SHANTI. One such individual was Shanti Devi (1926-1994), an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement. Another prominent bearer of the name was Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar (1894-1955), an esteemed Indian chemist and a pioneer in the field of scientific research.

In the literary realm, the name SHANTI has been associated with Shanti Nandan (1919-2002), a renowned Bengali poet and author who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of India. Additionally, Shanti Ghosh (1914-1995) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer, renowned for her mastery of the Kathak dance form.

It is worth noting that the name SHANTI has also been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, transcending its original geographical boundaries. One notable example is Shanti Bhavan (1968-2010), a French singer and songwriter who gained popularity for her fusion of Indian and Western musical styles.

The surname SHANTI carries a profound meaning and rich historical significance, reflecting the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Indian subcontinent. Its association with peace, tranquility, and spirituality has endured throughout the ages, making it a name deeply rooted in the region's ancient heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shanti

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

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 Shanti was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 79.84% 103
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 9.30% 12
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.88% 5

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 Shanti has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 79.84% 66.99% 17.50%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 9.30% 10.68% -13.81%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 13.59% (S)%
Hispanic 3.88% 5.83% -40.16%

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

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

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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!

"Shanti last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 15, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/shanti-surname-popularity/.

"Shanti last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/shanti-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 September, 2024

Shanti last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/shanti-surname-popularity/.

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