Explore the Family Name Kashi

The meaning of Kashi

1. Indian (mainly Hindi-speaking states): habitational name from the Hindu holy city of Kashi (now known as Varanasi), derived from Sanskrit prakasha ‘light’. 2. Muslim (Iran, Pakistan): from the Persian personal name Kashī ‘health, happiness’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Kashi in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Kashi has seen a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Kashi was ranked as the 76,946th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had jumped to the 62,903rd position, marking an impressive 18.25% increase. Furthermore, the count of individuals with this surname also rose, from 232 in 2000 to 318 in 2010, reflecting a growth rate of 37.07%. The proportion of people named Kashi per 100k increased by 22.22%, indicating that the name is becoming more common.

20002010Change
Rank#76,946#62,90318.25%
Count23231837.07%
Proportion per 100k0.090.1122.22%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kashi

When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Kashi, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts over the decade. The largest group identifying with the Kashi surname in both 2000 and 2010 were those of White ethnicity, although their percentage decreased slightly from 76.29% to 72.33%. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw the highest growth rate at 29.95%, increasing their representation from 13.79% to 17.92%. Those identifying as two or more races also increased their presence slightly from 6.90% to 7.55%. There was a small decrease within the Black community, going down 12.50% from 2.16% to 1.89%. Notably, there were no individuals identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native with the Kashi surname in either year.

20002010Change
White76.29%72.33%-5.19%
Asian/Pacific Islander13.79%17.92%29.95%
Two or More Races6.9%7.55%9.42%
Black2.16%1.89%-12.5%
Hispanic0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%