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

Sood, 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 Sood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sood in America

Sood is the 15784th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sood surname appeared 1,846 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 Sood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sood 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 Sood

The surname "SOOD" has its origins in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "sudha," meaning "nectar" or "ambrosia." This name was likely given to individuals who were thought to possess qualities or abilities akin to the divine nectar, such as wisdom, purity, or spiritual enlightenment.

The earliest known reference to the surname "SOOD" can be found in the Mughal Empire's administrative records from the 16th century, where it was associated with land-owning families in the Punjab region. During this period, the spelling of the name varied, with variations such as "Soodh," "Sude," and "Soodha" being common.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "SOOD" was Bhai Mati Das Sood, a prominent Sikh scholar and preacher who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is revered for his contributions to the propagation of Sikhism and his unwavering devotion to the Sikh Gurus.

In the 18th century, the Sood family emerged as a prominent landowning and influential clan in the Punjab region. They played a significant role in the political and social fabric of the region during the tumultuous period of the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of regional powers.

Another notable figure bearing the surname "SOOD" was Raja Ajit Singh Sood, a renowned military commander and ruler of the Sikh kingdom of Lahore in the early 19th century. He is remembered for his bravery and strategic acumen in battles against the Afghan and British forces.

During the British colonial period in India, the Sood family continued to maintain its influential status, with many members serving in prominent positions within the colonial administration and contributing to the fields of education, literature, and social reform.

One such individual was Sir Sobha Singh Sood, a distinguished civil servant and administrator who served as the Governor of Sindh Province in the early 20th century. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and social welfare initiatives.

In the realm of literature, Khushwant Singh Sood, better known as Khushwant Singh, was a renowned Indian writer, journalist, and satirist. Born in 1915, he gained international acclaim for his novels, short stories, and his incisive commentary on Indian society and politics.

The surname "SOOD" has also been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, such as science, medicine, business, and the arts, further enriching its historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sood

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

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

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

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