Derakhshan last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Derakhshan

A Persian surname derived from the word "derakhsh" meaning radiant or shining.

Derakhshan, 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 Derakhshan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derakhshan in America

Derakhshan is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derakhshan surname appeared 115 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 Derakhshan.

The history of the last name Derakhshan

The surname Derakhshan has its origins in the Persian language, tracing its roots back to ancient Persia, now modern-day Iran. The name is derived from the Persian words "derakht" meaning "tree" and "shan" signifying "likeness" or "similarity." Together, the words form the meaning "like a tree" or "resembling a tree."

The earliest known mentions of the Derakhshan surname can be found in ancient Persian manuscripts and records dating back to the 8th century AD. These early references often associated the name with individuals who lived in or near forested areas or had professions related to the cultivation or management of trees and woodlands.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the Derakhshan surname was Ahmad ibn Derakhshan, a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived in the 9th century AD. His works, including the celebrated "Divan-e-Derakhshan," have been widely studied and appreciated for their literary merit and contribution to Persian literature.

During the Seljuk Empire, which ruled over parts of the Middle East and Central Asia from the 11th to 12th centuries, the Derakhshan name gained prominence. Several notable individuals from this period carried the surname, including Mahmud Derakhshan, a skilled architect who oversaw the construction of several magnificent mosques and palaces in the region.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Shams al-Din Derakhshan emerged as a revered Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher. His teachings and writings heavily influenced the development of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, and he gained a significant following throughout the Persian world.

Another notable individual bearing the Derakhshan surname was Mirza Mohammad Reza Derakhshan, a prominent 19th-century Iranian statesman and diplomat. He played a crucial role in negotiating several treaties and agreements between Persia and other nations, contributing to the country's diplomatic relations during a period of significant political and social change.

Throughout its long history, the Derakhshan surname has been associated with various professions, including scholars, poets, architects, and government officials. While its origins stem from the Persian language, the name has gained recognition and respect across various cultures and regions influenced by Persian civilization and its rich literary and artistic traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derakhshan

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

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 Derakhshan was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 87.83% 101
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 11.30% 13
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Derakhshan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/derakhshan-surname-popularity/.

"Derakhshan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/derakhshan-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 May, 2025

Derakhshan last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/derakhshan-surname-popularity/.

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