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

Arshad, 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 Arshad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arshad in America

Arshad is the 17673rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arshad surname appeared 1,588 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Arshad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arshad 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 Arshad

The surname Arshad originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "arshada," which means "to guide" or "to lead." The name likely referred to someone who was a guide or leader within their community.

The earliest known references to the name Arshad date back to the 9th century, when it appeared in various Arabic manuscripts and historical records. Some of the earliest recorded examples include Arshad ibn al-Walid, a famous poet and scholar who lived in Basra during the 9th century, and Arshad al-Baghdadi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Baghdad in the 10th century.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the name Arshad became more widespread as the Arab conquests and the spread of Islam brought the name to different regions of the Middle East and North Africa. One notable figure from this period was Arshad al-Dimashqi, a Syrian historian and geographer who lived in Damascus in the 12th century.

As the name spread, it also took on various spellings and variations in different regions. For example, in some parts of North Africa, the name was spelled "Arshid," while in parts of the Levant, it was sometimes spelled "Arshad."

One of the most famous bearers of the name Arshad was Arshad al-Dawla, a Persian prince and military commander who ruled over parts of modern-day Iran and Iraq in the 10th century. He was known for his skills on the battlefield and his patronage of the arts and sciences.

Another notable figure with the surname Arshad was Arshad Khan, a Mughal nobleman and military commander who served under the emperors Akbar and Jahangir in the 16th and 17th centuries. He was known for his bravery and loyalty and played a significant role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Arshad also appeared in various place names throughout the Middle East and North Africa, such as the town of Arshad in modern-day Iran and the village of Arshad in Morocco.

Over time, the surname Arshad has spread to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations. However, its origins can be traced back to the Arabian Peninsula, where it first emerged as a name associated with guidance and leadership.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arshad

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

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

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

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