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

Esfandiari, 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 Esfandiari surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esfandiari in America

Esfandiari is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esfandiari surname appeared 198 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 Esfandiari.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esfandiari 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 Esfandiari

The surname ESFANDIARI is believed to have originated from Persia (modern-day Iran) during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Persian word "esfand," which refers to a plant species known as wild rue, and the suffix "-iari," which indicates a person's occupation or association with a particular trade or activity.

The earliest known record of the ESFANDIARI surname dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in a Persian manuscript detailing the sale of land in the region of Isfahan. This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals involved in the cultivation, trade, or use of the esfand plant.

During the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736), the ESFANDIARI surname gained prominence as several families bearing this name held influential positions within the royal court. One notable figure was Mirza Ahmad Esfandiari, a prominent poet and calligrapher who lived during the reign of Shah Abbas I (1587-1629).

In the 19th century, the ESFANDIARI surname was recorded in various regions of Persia, including Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tehran. This indicates that the name had spread across the country and was adopted by families from different backgrounds and occupations.

Throughout history, several individuals with the ESFANDIARI surname have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are five notable examples:

1. Mohammad Esfandiari (1897-1968), a renowned Iranian painter and calligrapher known for his innovative techniques and fusion of traditional and modern styles.

2. Fereydoun Esfandiari (1923-1996), an Iranian diplomat who served as Iran's ambassador to several countries, including the United States, and played a crucial role in shaping Iran's foreign policy during the Cold War era.

3. Hossein Esfandiari (1925-2015), an Iranian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of theoretical nuclear physics and served as the president of Shiraz University.

4. Haleh Esfandiari (born 1940), an Iranian-American academic and author who has written extensively on Iranian culture and politics, and was briefly imprisoned in Iran in 2007 on charges of endangering national security.

5. Vida Esfandiari (born 1971), an Iranian-American actress and model who has appeared in several television shows and films, including "Crash" and "The Terminal."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esfandiari

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

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

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

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