Sohan last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Sohan

A surname of Indian origin, possibly derived from the Sanskrit word 'sohana' meaning beautiful or charming.

Sohan, 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 Sohan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sohan in America

Sohan is the 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sohan surname appeared 236 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 Sohan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sohan 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 80419 78549 2.35%
Count 236 226 4.33%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.08 0.00%

The history of the last name Sohan

The surname SOHAN is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of India and Pakistan. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Sohan," which means "beautiful" or "attractive." This surname is primarily associated with the Hindu community, particularly those belonging to the Brahmin caste.

The earliest recorded instances of the SOHAN surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the Mughal Empire. During this period, the name was often associated with scholars, poets, and intellectuals, as the Brahmin community held a prominent position in the realms of education and literature.

One notable historical reference to the SOHAN surname can be found in the "Akbarnama," a biographical account of the life and reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The book, written by Abul Fazl, a prominent scholar and courtier, mentions several individuals bearing the SOHAN surname who held influential positions in the Mughal court.

In the 17th century, the SOHAN surname gained further prominence, and several individuals bearing this name made significant contributions to various fields. One such individual was Sohan Lal Shrivastav, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived from 1640 to 1725. His works, including the epic poem "Sohanleela," are considered masterpieces of Sanskrit literature.

Another notable figure with the SOHAN surname was Sohan Singh Bhakna (1870-1968), a prominent leader of the Ghadar Party, an organization that played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement. Bhakna was a vocal advocate for civil rights and worked tirelessly to mobilize the Indian diaspora in North America to support the cause of Indian independence.

In the 20th century, the SOHAN surname continued to be associated with individuals who made significant contributions to various fields. One such person was Sohan Lal Puri (1905-1977), an eminent Indian diplomat and statesman who served as India's Ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union.

Another notable figure was Sohan Singh Jalal (1912-1992), a renowned Punjabi writer and poet who played a pivotal role in the literary renaissance of the Punjabi language. His works, which explored themes of social justice and human rights, earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.

The SOHAN surname has also been associated with several place names in India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. For example, the town of Sohangarh in Rajasthan is believed to have derived its name from the SOHAN surname, possibly due to the presence of a prominent family or individual bearing this name in the region.

Overall, the surname SOHAN has a rich and diverse history, with its roots deeply embedded in the cultural and intellectual traditions of the Indian subcontinent. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions to various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the history and heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sohan

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

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 Sohan was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 29.66% 70
Non-Hispanic Black Only 21.61% 51
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 34.32% 81
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.54% 6
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.63% 18
Hispanic Origin 4.24% 10

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 29.66% 24.34% 19.70%
Black 21.61% 17.70% 19.89%
Asian and Pacific Islander 34.32% 33.63% 2.03%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.54% 2.21% 13.89%
Two or More Races 7.63% 17.26% -77.38%
Hispanic 4.24% 4.87% -13.83%

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

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

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"Sohan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/sohan-surname-popularity/.

"Sohan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/sohan-surname-popularity/. Accessed 8 June, 2025

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

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