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

Tashi, 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 Tashi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tashi in America

Tashi is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tashi surname appeared 241 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 Tashi.

The history of the last name Tashi

The surname Tashi originates from the Tibetan language and can be traced back to the 7th century AD in the Tibetan Plateau region. It is believed to have derived from the Tibetan word "tashi," which means "auspicious" or "good luck." This name was likely given to individuals or families who were considered fortunate or blessed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tashi can be found in the ancient Tibetan texts known as the "Dunhuang Manuscripts," which date back to the 8th century AD. These manuscripts were discovered in the early 20th century in the Mogao Caves located in Dunhuang, China, and they provide valuable insights into the culture and history of ancient Tibet.

During the 13th century, a prominent Buddhist scholar and translator named Tashi Tsering (1223-1298) made significant contributions to the spread of Buddhism in Tibet. He was renowned for his translations of important Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Tibetan, and his works greatly influenced the development of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the 16th century, Tashi Namgyal (1557-1592) was a prominent Tibetan ruler who unified the regions of Tsang and Ngari, establishing the Ganden Phodrang government in Lhasa. His reign marked a significant period of political stability and cultural development in Tibet.

Another notable figure with the surname Tashi was Tashi Rabten (1920-1986), a renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and writer. He was widely respected for his extensive knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and his efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan culture and traditions.

Tashi Tsering Josayee (1929-2015) was a renowned Tibetan writer and historian who played a crucial role in documenting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. His works focused on Tibetan history, literature, and language, and he was recognized for his contributions with numerous awards and honors.

Throughout history, the surname Tashi has been associated with various place names and older spellings in the Tibetan region. For example, the town of Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet, was named after the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism.

While the surname Tashi has its roots in Tibetan culture and language, it has also been adopted by individuals of other ethnic backgrounds, particularly those who have embraced Tibetan Buddhism or have close ties to the Tibetan community. The name continues to carry the connotation of auspiciousness and good fortune, making it a popular choice among families in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tashi

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

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

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

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