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

Shetty, 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 Shetty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shetty in America

Shetty is the 13682nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shetty surname appeared 2,213 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Shetty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shetty 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 Shetty

The surname Shetty is of Indian origin, specifically from the southwestern state of Karnataka. It traces its roots back to the 15th century or earlier during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire. The name is derived from the Kannada word "shetty" which means "merchant" or "landowner."

Shetties were a prominent community of traders, bankers, and landowners who played a significant role in the economic and cultural life of Karnataka. They were often involved in international trade and formed a crucial link between the hinterlands and the coastal regions of the state.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Shetty can be found in inscriptions and literary works from the 16th century. One notable example is the Shetty family mentioned in the "Keladi Nripa Vijayam," a historical work chronicling the reign of the Keladi Nayakas, a powerful dynasty that ruled parts of Karnataka between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Over the centuries, the Shetty surname has been associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Shivappa Nayaka Shetty, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the 17th century who is credited with building numerous temples and public buildings in the city of Mangalore.

Another prominent Shetty was Govind Prabhu Shetty, a renowned scholar and author who lived in the 18th century. His works, such as "Madhva Vijaya" and "Sarva Moola Grantha," were influential in preserving and propagating the Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya.

In the realm of literature, the name Shetty is often associated with the celebrated Kannada writer and playwright, T.P. Kailasam (1884-1946). His plays and novels, such as "Tollu Gatti" and "Sanna Kathegalu," explored the lives and struggles of the common people and are considered classics in Kannada literature.

The 19th century saw the rise of another notable Shetty, Pramoda Devi Shetty (1857-1952), who was a pioneering educator and social reformer. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Mangalore and played a pivotal role in promoting women's education in the region.

In more recent times, the Shetty surname has gained global recognition through individuals like Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, a renowned cardiac surgeon and philanthropist who founded the Narayana Health group of hospitals, providing affordable healthcare to millions.

While the Shetty surname has its roots in Karnataka, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name's strong association with the rich cultural and commercial heritage of the region remains a source of pride and identity for those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shetty

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

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

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

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