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

Esfahani, 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 Esfahani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esfahani in America

Esfahani is the 64559th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esfahani surname appeared 308 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 Esfahani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esfahani 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 Esfahani

The surname "ESFAHANI" is of Persian origin, tracing its roots back to the city of Isfahan in central Iran. Isfahan, known as "Esfahân" in Persian, has a rich history dating back to ancient times, and it was once the capital of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736).

The name "ESFAHANI" likely originated as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer or their ancestors hailed from the city of Isfahan. It is derived from the Persian word "Esfahân," which means "the area of the army." This name reflects the strategic importance of Isfahan as a military and administrative center during various periods of Persian history.

In medieval Persian manuscripts and historical records, the name is often spelled with variations such as "Isfahani," "Esfahany," or "Isfahany." These variations reflect the different ways the name was transcribed and transliterated over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ESFAHANI" dates back to the 11th century, when Abu Nu'aym Ahmad ibn 'Abd Allah al-Isfahani (948-1038), a renowned Persian scholar and author, lived and worked in Isfahan. His literary works, including the famous "Hilyat al-Awliya' wa Tabaqat al-Asfiya'" (The Adornment of the Saints and the Ranks of the Virtuous), have survived to this day.

Another notable figure with the surname "ESFAHANI" was Mahmud al-Isfahani (d. 1216), a Persian poet and literary critic who lived during the Seljuk period. His works, including the "Kharida al-Qasr wa Jaridah al-'Asr" (The Pearl of the Palace and the Chronicle of the Age), provide valuable insights into the literary and cultural life of the time.

In the 14th century, Hafiz-e Esfahani (1315-1390), one of the most celebrated Persian poets, was born and lived in Isfahan. His collection of ghazals, known as the "Divan-e Hafiz," is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Persian literature and has influenced poets and scholars across the Islamic world and beyond.

During the Safavid period, Mohammad Baqer Majlesi Esfahani (1627-1699), a prominent Shia scholar and theologian, lived in Isfahan and authored numerous works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology. His writings, such as the "Bihar al-Anwar" (Oceans of Light), had a profound impact on the development of Shia Islamic thought.

In the 19th century, Mirza Habib Esfahani (1835-1893), a renowned Persian calligrapher and painter, was born in Isfahan. His intricate calligraphic works and paintings adorned many buildings and manuscripts, earning him widespread recognition and praise.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname "ESFAHANI" throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural and intellectual heritage associated with the city of Isfahan and its inhabitants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esfahani

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

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

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

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