2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Esshaki
A name originating from the Arabic word "ash-shaki" meaning the doubtful or uncertain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Esshaki. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Esshaki surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Esshaki in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Esshaki, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Esshaki
The surname ESSHAKI originates from the Middle East, specifically the region of modern-day Iran. Its roots can be traced back to the late 11th century during the reign of the Seljuk Empire. The name is believed to be derived from the Persian word "esshak," which translates to "donkey" or "mule."
In the early days, ESSHAKI was likely a descriptive surname given to individuals who worked with or traded in donkeys or mules. These animals were essential for transportation and trade routes across the vast Seljuk territories. The surname may have initially been bestowed upon those who cared for or bred these animals.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the ESSHAKI name can be found in a collection of Persian manuscripts from the 12th century. These documents detail trade agreements and transactions involving merchants and traders bearing the ESSHAKI name, further solidifying the connection to the donkey and mule trade.
As the centuries passed, the ESSHAKI surname spread beyond its Persian origins. In the 14th century, historical records from the Ottoman Empire document the presence of individuals with the ESSHAKI name, likely descendants of Persian traders who settled in the region.
Notably, a renowned Persian poet named Hafiz Esshaki (1325-1389) achieved great acclaim during this period. His works, which often celebrated the beauty of nature and love, are still widely studied and appreciated today.
Another prominent figure was Mirza Esshaki (1480-1543), a skilled calligrapher and artist who served at the court of the Safavid Empire. His intricate calligraphic works adorned many royal manuscripts and buildings, leaving a lasting impact on Persian art and culture.
In the 17th century, the ESSHAKI name gained prominence in the region of Shiraz, where a family of merchants and landowners bearing the surname established themselves. One notable member, Amir Esshaki (1620-1688), was a respected scholar and philanthropist who founded several schools and libraries in the city.
As trade routes expanded and individuals migrated, the ESSHAKI surname eventually found its way to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, records show ESSHAKI families settling in regions such as India and parts of Europe, carrying with them the rich cultural heritage of their Persian ancestry.
Throughout its long history, the ESSHAKI surname has maintained its connection to the noble and hardworking lineage of those who once worked with donkeys and mules, a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient Persian name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Esshaki
Among Census respondents with the surname Esshaki, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Esshaki bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Esshaki surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.7% · 99
- Hispanic or Latino6.5% · 7
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Esshaki
Esshaki appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-5 bearers (-4.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,028 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,834 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.5%) | Down 15,028 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Up 2,834 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Esshaki surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #150,935 | 1.8% |
| Count | 106 | 108 | 1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Esshaki bearers went from 106 to 108 (+1.9% change). The surname moved up 2,834 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #150,935.
FAQ
Esshaki surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Esshaki?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Esshaki. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Esshaki?
Esshaki ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Esshaki. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Esshaki.
Has Esshaki become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Esshaki went from 106 recorded bearers to 108. That is an increase of 2 (+1.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Esshaki?
Among Census respondents with the surname Esshaki, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Esshaki in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.7% (99 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Esshaki appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.7%), Hispanic (6.5%), Two or More Races (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Esshaki (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Esshaki mean?
A name originating from the Arabic word "ash-shaki" meaning the doubtful or uncertain. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Esshaki (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Esshaki?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.