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

Begum, 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 Begum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Begum in America

Begum is the 2924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Begum surname appeared 12,255 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Begum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Begum 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 Begum

The surname "Begum" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent and is derived from the Turkish word "Begüm," which means "princess" or "lady of high rank." This title was commonly used in the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century.

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, in 1526. During this period, the title "Begum" was bestowed upon the wives and daughters of the Mughal emperors and other high-ranking nobles. It became a prestigious title, signifying the bearer's status and lineage.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the use of the title "Begum" can be found in the official chronicles of the Mughal Empire, known as the "Akbarnama," which documents the life and reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605). The book mentions several prominent Begums, including Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begum, and his chief wife, Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum.

Another notable Begum from the Mughal era was Nur Jahan Begum (1577-1645), who was the wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and political influence, and often took an active role in governing the empire.

As the Mughal Empire declined in the 18th and 19th centuries, the title "Begum" continued to be used by the wives and daughters of the remaining Mughal nobility, as well as by the royal families of the princely states that emerged in the aftermath of the empire's collapse.

One of the most famous Begums of the later period was Begum Samru (1753-1836), a former nautch (dancing) girl who rose to become the ruler of the princely state of Sardhana in present-day Uttar Pradesh. She is renowned for her military prowess and her role in the political intrigues of the time.

Another prominent Begum was Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820-1879), who was the wife of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. She played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, leading the rebel forces in the city of Lucknow against the British East India Company.

Over time, the surname "Begum" became associated with Muslim families of high social standing or those who claimed descent from the Mughal nobility. It is still commonly found in parts of South Asia, particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and serves as a reminder of the region's rich cultural heritage and the influence of the Mughal Empire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Begum

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

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

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

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