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

Behnam, 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 Behnam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behnam in America

Behnam is the 54178th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behnam surname appeared 381 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 Behnam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behnam 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 Behnam

The surname "BEHNAM" is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the 6th century AD in the region of modern-day Iran. It is derived from the Persian words "beh" meaning "good" and "nam" meaning "name" or "reputation". Originally, the name was likely a descriptive title bestowed upon individuals who were known for their upstanding character and honorable conduct.

In ancient Persian manuscripts and records, variations of the name such as "Behnam" and "Behnaam" can be found, indicating its longstanding presence in the region. One of the earliest recorded references to the name comes from the Shahnameh, the epic Persian poem composed by Ferdowsi in the late 10th century, where a character named Behnam appears.

During the Sassanid era (224-651 AD), the name Behnam gained prominence among the Persian nobility and aristocracy. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Behnam Esfahani, a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived in the 11th century, and Behnam Pazhuhesh, a celebrated 12th-century philosopher and astronomer.

As the Persian Empire expanded, the name spread to other regions, including parts of Central Asia and the Caucasus. In the 13th century, records show a Behnam Khan, a military leader and governor in the service of the Mongol Empire, who played a significant role in the conquest of modern-day Azerbaijan.

In the 16th century, during the Safavid dynasty, the name Behnam was associated with several influential figures, such as Behnam Mirza, a prince and military commander, and Behnam Qazi, a respected jurist and legal scholar.

Another notable individual was Behnam Ardeshir, a 17th-century Persian merchant and trader who established trade routes between Persia and India, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultural influences between the two regions.

As the name spread across the Persian cultural sphere, it also found its way into literature and poetry. Behnam Tabrizi, an 18th-century Persian poet and calligrapher, was renowned for his eloquent verses and mastery of the art of calligraphy.

Throughout its history, the surname "BEHNAM" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, warriors, and merchants, reflecting the diverse contributions made by those who bore this distinguished name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behnam

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

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

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

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