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

Jah, 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 Jah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jah in America

Jah is the 59901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jah surname appeared 337 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 Jah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jah 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 Jah

The surname "JAH" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Punjab. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "jahi," meaning "to abandon" or "to forsake." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who had abandoned their homeland or ancestral roots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "JAH" can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in historical records from the Mughal Empire. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Jah" or "Jaha," reflecting the variations in regional dialects and scribal practices.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence in the region of Punjab, where it was associated with several prominent individuals. One notable figure was Bhai Jah, a renowned Sikh scholar and poet who lived during the reign of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru. Bhai Jah's works have been widely studied and revered within the Sikh tradition.

Another historically significant individual bearing the surname "JAH" was Mirza Jah, a prominent military leader and statesman who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. Mirza Jah played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Mughal Empire's territories in the Deccan region.

In the 18th century, the name "JAH" gained further recognition through the exploits of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I, the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad State in present-day India. Asaf Jah I rose to prominence as a powerful military commander under the Mughal Empire and later established his own independent kingdom in the Deccan region.

During the 19th century, the surname "JAH" was associated with several notable figures in the fields of literature, education, and social reform. One such individual was Lala Jah, a renowned scholar and educator who made significant contributions to the promotion of education and women's empowerment in Punjab.

While the name "JAH" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, it remains most prevalent in the regions of Punjab, Sindh, and other parts of South Asia where individuals with this surname have made significant contributions to the cultural, social, and political fabric of their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jah

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

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

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

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