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

Azad, 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 Azad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Azad in America

Azad is the 19567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Azad surname appeared 1,379 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 Azad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Azad 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 Azad

The surname Azad is of Persian origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Persian word 'azad', meaning 'free' or 'liberated'. The name was likely given to individuals who had gained their freedom from slavery or oppression.

During the reign of the Mughal Empire in India, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Azad gained prominence. It was often bestowed upon those who had been released from captivity or had achieved a sense of liberation, either physically or spiritually.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Azad can be found in the Persian manuscript 'Tazkirat-ul-Umara', written by Shah Nawaz Khan in the 17th century. This work documented the lives of notable individuals during the Mughal era, including several individuals bearing the surname Azad.

In the 18th century, the name Azad appeared in the records of the East India Company, which governed parts of India at that time. These records mention individuals with the surname Azad who held various positions within the company's administration.

A notable figure bearing the surname Azad was Ghulam Ghaus Azad (1804-1876), a renowned Urdu poet and scholar from Delhi. His literary works, including the famous 'Nayrang-e-Khayal', have left a lasting impact on Urdu literature.

Another prominent individual with the surname Azad was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), an Indian scholar, poet, and one of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement. He served as the first Minister of Education in the Indian government after independence and played a crucial role in promoting education and secularism in the country.

The name Azad has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, Azadpur, a locality in Delhi, is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname Azad who settled in the area.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Azad has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from poets and scholars to freedom fighters and administrators. Its enduring presence serves as a reminder of the pursuit of liberty and the resilience of those who have fought for their freedom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Azad

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

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

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

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