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

Azhar, 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 Azhar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Azhar in America

Azhar is the 34149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Azhar surname appeared 665 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 Azhar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Azhar 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 Azhar

The surname Azhar has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Arabic word "azhar," which means "flower" or "blossoming."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Azhar can be found in the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, which was established in 972 AD. This mosque, with its notable architectural style and significance in Islamic education, may have influenced the adoption of the name Azhar.

In the 11th century, the name Azhar appeared in various manuscripts and historical records, particularly in the regions of modern-day Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. These records often mentioned individuals with the surname Azhar who were scholars, poets, or influential figures in their respective communities.

During the 12th century, the surname Azhar gained prominence in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. One notable figure from this era was Abu Bakr al-Azhari, a renowned Islamic scholar and linguist who lived from 1087 to 1141 AD. His works on Arabic language and grammar were highly influential and contributed to the widespread recognition of the name Azhar.

In the 13th century, the surname Azhar appeared in various historical records from the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over Egypt, Syria, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. One prominent individual from this period was Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Azhari, a renowned philologist and lexicographer who authored a comprehensive Arabic dictionary titled "Kitab al-Ain."

Over the centuries, the surname Azhar spread across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa, carried by families and individuals who traced their lineage back to the original bearers of the name. Notable figures with the surname Azhar include Sayyid Ahmad al-Azhari, an 18th-century Sufi scholar and poet from India, and Zaynab al-Azhariyya, a 13th-century Egyptian poet and writer known for her contributions to Arabic literature.

While the surname Azhar has its roots in the Middle East, it has since been adopted by families across the globe, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. The name continues to hold significance, reflecting its rich historical legacy and connection to the vibrant traditions of the Arabic language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Azhar

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

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

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

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