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

Dervishian, 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 Dervishian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dervishian in America

Dervishian is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dervishian surname appeared 112 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 Dervishian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dervishian 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 Dervishian

The surname Dervishian is of Armenian origin and dates back to the 15th century. It is derived from the word "dervish," which refers to a member of a Sufi Muslim religious order known for their mystical practices and spiritual teachings. The suffix "-ian" indicates a person or a family associated with that particular group or profession.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over Armenia, Armenians often adopted surnames related to their professions or religious affiliations. It is believed that the Dervishian surname may have been given to Armenian families who had connections with the Sufi dervish order, either as members or as individuals who interacted with them in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dervishian surname can be found in a 16th-century Armenian manuscript detailing the lives of notable figures from the region. The document mentions a certain Khachatur Dervishian, a renowned calligrapher and scholar who resided in the city of Van in the late 15th century.

In the 17th century, the Dervishian family appears to have established itself in the city of Nor Jugha (present-day Julfa, Iran), which was a thriving center of Armenian culture and commerce. Records from that time period indicate that a prominent merchant named Harutyun Dervishian played a significant role in the city's trade with neighboring regions.

During the 18th century, a branch of the Dervishian family settled in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. One notable figure from this lineage was Archbishop Karapet Dervishian (1720-1799), who served as the Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Jerusalem and oversaw the construction of several important religious buildings.

In the 19th century, the Dervishian surname gained prominence in the field of education. Vardges Dervishian (1825-1898), a renowned educator and writer, established several schools in various Armenian communities and authored numerous textbooks and literary works. His efforts played a significant role in promoting Armenian culture and language.

Another notable figure was Vazgen Dervishian (1867-1942), a prominent lawyer and political activist who advocated for Armenian rights within the Ottoman Empire. He was a leading figure in the Armenian National Movement and played a crucial role in the establishment of the first Armenian Republic in 1918.

Throughout history, the Dervishian surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, clergy, merchants, educators, and political activists. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Sufi dervish order, it has since evolved to represent a distinct Armenian identity and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dervishian

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

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

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

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