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

Jahani, 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 Jahani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jahani in America

Jahani is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jahani surname appeared 123 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 Jahani.

The history of the last name Jahani

The surname Jahani has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Persian-speaking regions of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th to 13th centuries.

The name Jahani is derived from the Persian word "jahan," which means "world" or "universe." It is likely that the name was initially used as a descriptive term, referring to someone who was widely traveled or had a global perspective. Over time, this descriptive term evolved into a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Jahani surname can be found in the "Shahnameh," an epic Persian poem written by Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. The poem contains references to individuals with the surname, suggesting that it was already in use during that period.

In the 12th century, a prominent Persian scholar and poet named Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209) was born with the given name of Jahani. His works, which included the famous "Khamsa" (Five Poems), have been widely celebrated and studied throughout the Persian-speaking world.

During the Timurid Dynasty, which ruled over parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia from the 14th to the 16th centuries, several individuals with the surname Jahani held important positions. One notable figure was Qazi Jahani, a renowned jurist and scholar who served as the chief judge (qazi) of the city of Herat in the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, a Persian poet and mystic named Shah Jahani (1495-1567) gained recognition for his spiritual writings and verses. His works had a significant influence on the development of Persian Sufism and mystical poetry.

Another prominent figure with the Jahani surname was Mirza Jahani Kabuli, a Persian poet and calligrapher who lived during the 17th century. He was renowned for his mastery of the Nasta'liq calligraphic style and his contributions to the literary traditions of the Mughal Empire.

While the Jahani surname has its roots in the Persian-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to this surname can be traced back to its origins in the Middle East, where it has a rich cultural and literary heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jahani

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

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

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

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