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

Anwer, 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 Anwer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Anwer in America

Anwer is the 95545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Anwer surname appeared 191 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 Anwer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Anwer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Anwer

The surname Anwer has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab world. It is believed to have originated in the 8th or 9th century CE during the Golden Age of the Islamic civilization. The name is derived from the Arabic word "anwar," which means "lights" or "illuminations."

Historically, surnames in the Arab world were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or descriptive phrases. In this case, it is likely that the surname Anwer was initially given to individuals who were perceived as enlightened, knowledgeable, or possessing a radiant personality.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Anwer can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and chronicles. One notable example is the 10th-century scholar and poet Abu al-Ala al-Anwer, who hailed from the city of Maarra in present-day Syria. His full name, Abu al-Ala Ahmed ibn Abdallah al-Anwer, reflects the use of the surname as a descriptive identifier.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Anwer was the 12th-century Persian philosopher and poet Sohrevardi al-Anwer. He was born in Sohrevard, a village near the city of Zanjan in modern-day Iran, and his works significantly influenced the development of Islamic mysticism and metaphysics.

In the 14th century, the name Anwer appeared in the historical records of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt. Ibn Anwer al-Qahiri was a renowned calligrapher and poet who served as a court scribe during the reign of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad.

Moving to more recent times, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Anwer was Sir Muhammad Anwer, a Pakistani diplomat and statesman who served as the country's Foreign Minister from 1965 to 1966. He played a crucial role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy during a tumultuous period in the nation's history.

Another significant figure was Anwer Beg Chughtai, a celebrated Pakistani artist and painter who lived from 1897 to 1975. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the region and is known for his distinct style that blended traditional Islamic art with modern techniques.

While the surname Anwer has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread to various parts of the globe, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the rich intellectual and artistic traditions of the Middle East.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Anwer

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

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 Anwer 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Anwer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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