2000
#17,073
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,533
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.57
Rare Last name
Srivastava
A Sanskrit-derived surname indicating the person's ancestors lived in or were native to the holy city of Vastan.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,947 Americans carry the last name Srivastava. That puts it at #5,545 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,338 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Srivastava surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Srivastava with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
6.9K
1 in 49,338
Census rank
#5,545
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,058 bearers of the surname Srivastava in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5545th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Srivastava, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Srivastava
The surname Srivastava has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern region of India, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "Sri" and "Vasta," which collectively mean "prosperous" or "affluent dwelling."
The name Srivastava is believed to have been initially associated with individuals who hailed from prosperous households or occupied prestigious positions in society. As a result, it became a popular surname among various communities, including Brahmins, Kayasthas, and other upper-class groups.
Historical references to the Srivastava surname can be found in ancient texts, manuscripts, and inscriptions dating back to the 12th century. One notable example is the mention of a Hindu scholar named Srivastava Bhatta in the Skanda Purana, a Sanskrit text from the 7th or 8th century.
The earliest recorded instances of the Srivastava surname can be traced back to the 14th century, with mentions in various royal records and land grants. During this time, the name was often spelled differently, such as "Srivastav," "Sribastab," or "Sribhastab," reflecting regional variations and linguistic adaptations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Srivastava surname, including:
1. Ravi Shankar Srivastava (1920-2012), an Indian sitarist and composer, widely regarded as the most influential figure in popularizing Indian classical music globally.
2. Gopaldas Srivastava (1854-1926), an Indian freedom fighter and activist who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement.
3. Amar Nath Srivastava (1899-1976), an Indian historian and archaeologist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian history and culture.
4. Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946), an Indian educationist and politician, known for his efforts in establishing the Banaras Hindu University and advocating for Indian independence.
5. Bharatendu Harishchandra (1850-1885), a renowned Indian author, poet, and playwright who played a crucial role in the development of modern Hindi literature.
The Srivastava surname has been associated with various place names and geographical locations throughout India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, where it has been prominent for centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Srivastava
Among Census respondents with the surname Srivastava, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Srivastava bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Srivastava surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.5% · 5,723
- White2.6% · 155
- Two or more races1.8% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino0.4% · 26
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 23
- Black or African American0.3% · 21
Timeline
Historical Census data for Srivastava
Srivastava appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,928
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,251
+1,718 bearers (+112.1%)
Per 100,000 1.10
Rank movement Up 7,145 places
2020
#5,545
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,058
+2,807 bearers (+86.3%)
Per 100,000 2.03
Rank movement Up 4,383 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #17,073 | 1,533 | 0.57 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,928 | 3,251 | 1.10 | +1,718 bearers (+112.1%) | Up 7,145 places |
| 2020 | #5,545 | 6,058 | 2.03 | +2,807 bearers (+86.3%) | Up 4,383 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Srivastava surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,928 | #5,545 | 44.1% |
| Count | 3,251 | 6,058 | 86.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.10 | 2.03 | 84.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Srivastava bearers went from 3,251 to 6,058 (+86.3% change). The surname moved up 4,383 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,928 to #5,545.
FAQ
Srivastava surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Srivastava?
Name Census estimates that about 6,947 living Americans carry the surname Srivastava. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 49,338 residents.
How common is Srivastava?
Srivastava ranks #5,545 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,058 people with the surname Srivastava. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,947), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Srivastava.
Has Srivastava become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Srivastava went from 3,251 recorded bearers to 6,058. That is an increase of 2,807 (+86.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #9,928 to #5,545.
What does the Census say about the background of Srivastava?
Among Census respondents with the surname Srivastava, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Srivastava in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.5% (5,723 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Srivastava appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.5%), White (2.6%), Two or More Races (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Srivastava (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Srivastava mean?
A Sanskrit-derived surname indicating the person's ancestors lived in or were native to the holy city of Vastan. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Srivastava (2.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Srivastava?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.