Find out how popular the last name Gholian is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gholian.
A rare Persian surname potentially derived from the town of Golian in Iran.
Gholian, 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 Gholian surname is from the 2010 census data.
Gholian is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Gholian surname appeared 105 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 Gholian.
The surname GHOLIAN is of Persian origin, with its roots traced back to the 10th century in the region now known as Iran. It is believed to have been derived from the Persian word "ghol," meaning "giant" or "formidable," suggesting that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals of imposing stature or strength.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in a 12th-century Persian manuscript, where a certain Farhad GHOLIAN is mentioned as a renowned warrior and military commander. This reference provides evidence of the name's existence during the Seljuk Empire's reign in Persia.
In the 14th century, during the Timurid dynasty, a prominent GHOLIAN family is documented as having held influential positions within the court of Timur, the renowned conqueror and founder of the Timurid Empire. The family's ancestral lands were located in the northern regions of present-day Iran, in the vicinity of the city of Mashhad.
Moving forward to the 16th century, historical records indicate that a notable figure named Mirza Qasem GHOLIAN served as a high-ranking military commander under Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty. His exploits and achievements are chronicled in several contemporary accounts of the era.
During the 18th century, the GHOLIAN surname gained further prominence with the birth of Nader Shah GHOLIAN (1688-1747), one of the most celebrated rulers of Persia. He rose from humble beginnings to become a powerful military leader and eventually ascended to the throne, establishing the short-lived Afsharid dynasty. Nader Shah's military campaigns and territorial conquests significantly expanded the boundaries of the Persian Empire.
In more recent times, a notable figure bearing the GHOLIAN surname was Yadollah GHOLIAN (1916-1995), a prominent Iranian writer, poet, and literary critic. He played a significant role in the development of modern Persian literature and was widely acclaimed for his contributions to the cultural and intellectual landscape of Iran.
While the surname GHOLIAN has its origins in Persia, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and diasporic communities. However, its rich historical roots can be traced back to the ancient lands of present-day Iran, where it has been associated with figures of distinction and influence throughout the centuries.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gholian.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gholian was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 90.48% | 95 |
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 | 8.57% | 9 |
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.
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 Gholian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/gholian-surname-popularity/">Gholian last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Gholian last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gholian-surname-popularity/.
"Gholian last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gholian-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025
Gholian last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/gholian-surname-popularity/.
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