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

Vashist, 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 Vashist surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vashist in America

Vashist is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vashist surname appeared 102 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 Vashist.

The history of the last name Vashist

The surname "VASHIST" is of Indian origin, specifically from the Hindu religious tradition. It is believed to have emerged during the Vedic period, which dates back to around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vasishtha," which was the name of one of the revered sages or rishis in ancient Hindu scriptures.

The name "Vasishtha" is mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, including the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Puranas. It is associated with the Vedic lore and is considered to be one of the most prominent rishis in the Hindu tradition. The name is also linked to the concept of brahmacharya, which refers to a life of celibacy, self-discipline, and spiritual pursuit.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname "VASHIST" can be traced back to the 16th century CE. During this time, the name was found in various Hindu manuscripts and historical records, particularly in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. The name was often spelled in different ways, such as "Vashisht" or "Vashishtha," reflecting the variations in transliteration from Sanskrit to other languages.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname "VASHIST." One of the most prominent figures was Pandit Vishnu Narayan Vashist (1845-1911), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author from Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). He wrote numerous books on Hindu philosophy, religion, and literature, and his works are still widely studied today.

Another significant person with the surname "VASHIST" was Pandit Madan Mohan Vashist (1890-1972), a renowned astrologer and scholar from Punjab, British India. He was considered an authority on Vedic astrology and wrote several influential books on the subject.

In the field of literature, Krishan Chander Vashist (1920-1994) was a prominent Hindi writer and novelist from Punjab, India. He is known for his works that explored social issues and the human condition.

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), the renowned Hindu monk and philosopher, is believed to have had a close association with a spiritual guru named Pavhari Baba Vashist, who resided in the Himalayas. This connection further highlights the significance of the name "VASHIST" in Hindu spiritual tradition.

It is important to note that while the surname "VASHIST" has its roots in the Hindu tradition, it has been adopted by individuals from various backgrounds and regions within India, transcending religious and cultural boundaries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vashist

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

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

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

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