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

Azar, 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 Azar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Azar in America

Azar is the 9643rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Azar surname appeared 3,365 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 Azar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Azar 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 Azar

The surname Azar has its origins in the Middle East, with roots tracing back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and the Arabic world. It is derived from the Arabic word "azar," meaning "free" or "noble." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals of noble or high-ranking status.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Azar can be found in Persian literature, specifically in the epic poem Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by the renowned poet Ferdowsi, written between 977 and 1010 AD. The name appears in reference to several characters, indicating its prevalence in the region during that era.

As the name spread across the Middle East, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Azhar, Azhar, and Azer. These variations can be found in historical records from various regions, including Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.

In the 11th century, the name Azar gained prominence in certain areas of the Levant, particularly in what is now modern-day Lebanon and Syria. Historical records from this period mention several notable figures bearing the surname, including Azar al-Dimashqi, a renowned scholar and philosopher from Damascus who lived from 1059 to 1134.

During the 13th century, the Azar surname appeared in various manuscripts and records from the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over parts of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. One notable figure from this period was Azar al-Qahiri, a celebrated poet and scholar who lived from 1215 to 1288 in Cairo, Egypt.

In the 16th century, the Azar surname gained popularity in parts of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Turkey and the Balkans. One prominent figure from this era was Azar Efendi, an Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century.

Another notable individual with the surname Azar was Mirza Azar, a Persian diplomat and scholar who lived from 1784 to 1848. He played a significant role in the diplomatic relations between Persia (Iran) and various European powers during the early 19th century.

Over the centuries, the Azar surname has continued to be found in various regions of the Middle East, as well as in communities of Middle Eastern descent around the world. While the name has maintained its distinct Arabic and Persian roots, it has also been subject to variations and adaptations as it has spread across different cultures and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Azar

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

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

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

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