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

Shastri, 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 Shastri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shastri in America

Shastri is the 40672nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shastri surname appeared 537 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 Shastri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shastri 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 Shastri

The surname "SHASTRI" is of Indian origin, specifically from the Hindu culture and Sanskrit language. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "shastra", which means "scripture" or "sacred text". The name is believed to have originated in ancient times, when families were given surnames based on their occupations or social status.

In the Hindu tradition, a "Shastri" was a scholar or teacher who had mastered the sacred texts and scriptures. These individuals were highly respected in society and often served as advisors to kings and rulers. The surname was likely first adopted by families whose members were involved in the study and teaching of Hindu scriptures.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "SHASTRI" can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit manuscripts and inscriptions from various parts of India. One notable example is the Shastri family that hailed from the town of Paithan in the modern-day state of Maharashtra, where they were known for their expertise in Hindu philosophy and literature.

Over the centuries, the surname "SHASTRI" has been associated with several prominent figures in Indian history. One of the most renowned was Pandit Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904-1966), who served as the second Prime Minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He played a crucial role in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and is remembered for his commitment to non-violence and his slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" (Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer).

Another notable individual with the surname "SHASTRI" was Haraprasad Shastri (1853-1931), a renowned scholar and writer from Bengal. He was a prolific author and translator, known for his works on Hindu philosophy and his translations of ancient Sanskrit texts into English.

In the field of literature, Hari Narayan Apte Shastri (1828-1891) was a prominent Marathi writer and lexicographer. He is best known for his monumental work, the "Apte Dictionary", which remains a valuable resource for students and scholars of the Marathi language.

The mathematician and astronomer Ganesh Shastri Dravid (1868-1945) also bears mentioning. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian astronomy and was instrumental in reviving interest in traditional Indian mathematics and astronomy.

Lastly, Pandit Vijay Shankar Shastri (1876-1958) was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author from Uttar Pradesh. He was a prolific writer and translator, and his works helped to preserve and promote the study of ancient Hindu scriptures and literature.

While the surname "SHASTRI" is still prevalent in India, particularly among Hindu communities, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shastri

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

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

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