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

Inayat, 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 Inayat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Inayat in America

Inayat is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Inayat surname appeared 128 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 Inayat.

The history of the last name Inayat

The surname INAYAT originates from the Arabic language and is derived from the Arabic word "inayat" which means "blessing" or "grace". It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions with a significant Arab population or influence. The name likely emerged during the early Islamic period, when Arabic names and surnames were widely adopted across the Middle East and parts of North Africa.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname INAYAT can be traced back to historical manuscripts and records from the medieval Islamic world. One notable mention is in a 12th-century manuscript from the Abbasid Caliphate, which references a scholar named Abu al-Inayat al-Baghdadi, indicating the use of INAYAT as a surname in Baghdad during that period.

During the Ottoman Empire era, the name INAYAT was prevalent among Muslim populations in regions under Ottoman rule, including parts of the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Levant. Historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries mention individuals with the surname INAYAT holding positions in the Ottoman bureaucracy and scholarly circles.

One prominent figure bearing the surname INAYAT was Mir Inayat Ali Khan (1888-1967), a renowned Indian Sufi mystic and musician who founded the Sufi Order in the West. He was born in Baroda, British India, and played a significant role in introducing Sufism and its spiritual teachings to the Western world.

Another notable individual with the surname INAYAT was Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944), a British spy who served as a Special Operations Executive agent during World War II. Born in Moscow to an Indian Muslim father and an American mother, she was captured and executed by the Nazis for her resistance efforts.

In the literary realm, Khwaja Altaf Husain Hali (1837-1914), a renowned Urdu poet and writer from British India, is also known by the pen name "Inayat". His works played a crucial role in the literary and social reform movements of the 19th century.

The surname INAYAT has also been associated with various place names and localities, particularly in regions with a significant Muslim presence. For example, there are villages and towns named "Inayat" or variations of the name in parts of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

While the surname INAYAT has its roots in the Middle East and the Islamic world, it has since spread to various parts of the globe due to migration and cultural exchanges. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of the Arabic language and Islamic traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Inayat

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

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 Inayat 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.

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

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

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