Danesh
A Persian surname signifying knowledge, wisdom or scholarship.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Danesh. That puts it at #54,864 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Danesh surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#54,864
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
375
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 375 bearers of the surname Danesh in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54864th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Danesh, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Danesh
The surname "Danesh" is of Persian origin and has its roots in the Middle Persian language, which was spoken in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) from the 3rd century BCE to the 9th century CE. It is derived from the Middle Persian word "dānesh," which means "knowledge" or "wisdom."
The earliest known references to the name can be traced back to the Sassanid Empire, which ruled over Persia from the 3rd to the 7th century CE. During this period, "Danesh" was used as a title or honorific for scholars, philosophers, and learned individuals who possessed vast knowledge and intellectual prowess.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Danesh" can be found in the "Shahnameh," an epic Persian poem written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. The poem mentions a character named "Daneshvar," which means "knowledgeable" or "wise" in Persian, suggesting the existence of the name "Danesh" during that time.
In the 13th century, a prominent Persian scholar and poet named Shams al-Din Daneshvar lived in Tabriz, in present-day northwestern Iran. He was renowned for his contributions to Persian literature and philosophy, and his name, which translates to "the knowledgeable one of the faith," is a testament to the significance of the "Danesh" name in Persian culture.
During the Safavid Dynasty, which ruled Persia from 1501 to 1736, the name "Danesh" gained further prominence. One notable figure was Mirza Mohammad Danesh, a prominent Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century and is considered one of the masters of the literary genre known as "qasida" (ode).
In the 19th century, a Persian philosopher and mystic named Seyyed Mohammad Danesh Ardestani was born in the city of Ardestan, located in central Iran. He was known for his teachings on Sufism and his contributions to the Persian philosophical tradition.
Throughout history, the name "Danesh" has been associated with intellectual pursuits, scholarship, and the pursuit of knowledge, reflecting the cultural and linguistic heritage of Persia. While the name may have evolved and taken on different spellings or variations over time, its connection to the concept of wisdom and learning has remained a consistent theme.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Danesh
Among Census respondents with the surname Danesh, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Danesh bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Danesh surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.9%
- Two or more races6.7%
- Hispanic or Latino3.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Danesh surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,864 | #54,864 | 0.0% |
| Count | 375 | 375 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Danesh bearers went from 375 to 375 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #54,864 to #54,864.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Danesh
FAQ
Danesh surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Danesh?
The surname Danesh holds position #54,864 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Danesh surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Danesh, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and Hispanic (3.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.