Explore the Family Name Basu
The meaning of Basu
Indian (West Bengal) and Bangladeshi: Kayastha name from Bengali bošu (from Sanskrit vasu, which has many meanings including ‘wealth, gem, radiance’). Some characteristic forenames: Indian Sankar, Amit, Amrita, Anindya, Asish, Gautam, Kalyan, Partha, Prabir, Shankar, Sharmila, Somnath.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Basu in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Basu has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Basu was ranked 22,891 in terms of popularity but jumped to rank 16,968 in 2010 — a change of 25.87%. The count of individuals with this surname also rose from 1,044 in 2000 to 1,675 in 2010, marking an impressive growth of 60.44%. The proportion of Basus per 100,000 individuals also experienced an uptick, increasing from 0.39 to 0.57, which equates to a 46.15% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,891 | #16,968 | 25.87% |
| Count | 1,044 | 1,675 | 60.44% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.57 | 46.15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Basu
The ethnicity distribution of individuals with the Basu surname shows that a majority identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, according to Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 84.39% of Basus were Asian/Pacific Islander, a figure that slightly increased to 86.63% in 2010. Comparatively smaller proportions identified as White or as having two or more ethnic identities, both of which saw decreases over the decade. Specifically, the count of those identifying as White decreased by 16.31%, while those claiming two or more ethnicities fell by 38.53%. Meanwhile, the percentage of Basus who identified as Hispanic saw a significant rise, jumping by 86.57% from 2000 to 2010. There were no recorded instances of Basus identifying as Black, American Indian, or Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 84.39% | 86.63% | 2.65% |
| White | 7.85% | 6.57% | -16.31% |
| Two or More Races | 6.8% | 4.18% | -38.53% |
| Hispanic | 0.67% | 1.25% | 86.57% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |