Explore the Family Name Sahai

The meaning of Sahai

Indian (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar): from Sanskrit sahaayaka ‘helper’. This was a traditional name in the Kayastha community from the Mughal empire onward. Traditionally, bearers of this name assisted rulers with administration.

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

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

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Sahai has seen a substantial increase in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century. In 2000, the surname was ranked 61,855 in terms of popularity, but by 2010, it had moved up to the 46,725th spot, marking a change of 24.46 percent. Alongside this rise in rank, the total number of people carrying the Sahai surname also increased from 303 in 2000 to 455 in 2010, showing an impressive growth of 50.17 percent. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw an upward trend, rising from 0.11 to 0.15 over the same decade.

20002010Change
Rank#61,855#46,72524.46%
Count30345550.17%
Proportion per 100k0.110.1536.36%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sahai

When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Sahai, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The majority of individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, making up 73.60 percent in 2000 and slightly declining to 72.97 percent in 2010. The percentage of those identifying with two or more ethnicities decreased significantly from 12.21 percent to 6.15 percent. The proportion of individuals identifying as white also went down by 22.32 percent during this period. A significant increase was observed in the Black community, which went from 3.63 percent to 11.43 percent. No data was reported for the Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities in either year.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander73.6%72.97%-0.86%
Black3.63%11.43%214.88%
White9.9%7.69%-22.32%
Two or More Races12.21%6.15%-49.63%
Hispanic0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%