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

Shekhar, 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 Shekhar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shekhar in America

Shekhar is the 80678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shekhar surname appeared 235 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 Shekhar.

The history of the last name Shekhar

The surname Shekhar has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern regions of the country. It is a Sanskrit word that is derived from the combination of two words: "shakh" meaning branch or twig, and "hara" meaning one who bears or holds. Thus, the literal meaning of the name Shekhar is "one who holds or bears a branch or twig."

In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, the name Shekhar is often associated with Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Lord Shiva is revered as the destroyer of evil and is often depicted holding a branch or twig, symbolizing his power over nature and his ability to bestow blessings upon his devotees.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Shekhar can be traced back to the 8th century CE, when it was mentioned in various Sanskrit inscriptions and manuscripts. During this period, the name was predominantly found in the northern and central regions of India, particularly in the areas that are now known as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Shekhar was Adi Shekhar, a renowned Hindu philosopher and theologian who lived in the 8th century CE. He is credited with establishing the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy, which emphasizes the idea of non-dualism and the unity of all existence.

Another notable figure was Raja Shekhar, a powerful ruler of the Chahamana dynasty who reigned over parts of present-day Rajasthan in the 12th century CE. He was known for his military prowess and his patronage of arts and literature.

In the 15th century, Shekhar Nath, a spiritual leader and saint, gained widespread recognition for his teachings and his contribution to the Bhakti movement, a Hindu devotional tradition that emphasized devotion to a personal god.

During the Mughal era, which spanned from the 16th to the 18th century, the Shekhar surname was also found among the nobility and literary elite. One prominent example is Mirza Shekhar, a renowned Persian poet and calligrapher who served at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar.

In more recent times, the Shekhar surname has been associated with various notable individuals, such as Vijay Shekhar Sharma, an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of the mobile payments company Paytm, and Shekhar Kapur, a renowned Indian film director and actor known for his critically acclaimed films like "Bandit Queen" and "Elizabeth."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shekhar

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

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

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

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