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

Shastry, 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 Shastry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shastry in America

Shastry is the 88336th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shastry surname appeared 210 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 Shastry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shastry 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 Shastry

The surname SHASTRY originated in India, particularly in the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It traces its roots back to the Sanskrit word "shastra," which means "sacred text" or "scripture." The name SHASTRY was typically given to Brahmin families who were scholars and teachers of the Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and Upanishads.

The earliest recorded instances of the SHASTRY surname can be found in ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions dating back to the 7th century CE. One notable example is the Chalukya dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh between the 6th and 12th centuries. During this period, several scholars and priests with the SHASTRY surname were renowned for their contributions to Hindu philosophy and literature.

One of the most famous historical figures with the SHASTRY surname was Vidyaranya Shastry, a influential philosopher, spiritual leader, and advisor to the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. He is credited with reviving Hindu spirituality and establishing several educational institutions during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual was Govinda Shastry, a celebrated poet and Sanskrit scholar who lived in the 16th century. His works, such as the "Govinda-vijaya" and "Radha-Krishna-gita," were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and devotional themes.

In the 18th century, Appa Shastry, a renowned mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the field of Indian astronomy. He authored several treatises on astronomical calculations and was highly regarded for his expertise.

Jagannatha Shastry, a 19th-century scholar and social reformer, played a crucial role in promoting education and advocating for the rights of women and the underprivileged in society. His efforts helped shape the social reform movements of that era.

Throughout history, the SHASTRY surname has been associated with scholarly pursuits, education, and the preservation of Hindu traditions and culture. While originally confined to the Brahmin community, the name has since been adopted by individuals from various backgrounds, reflecting the diverse and rich heritage of India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shastry

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

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

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

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