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

Kayani, 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 Kayani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kayani in America

Kayani is the 77788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kayani surname appeared 246 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 Kayani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kayani 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 Kayani

The surname Kayani is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Persian word "Kayan," which means "noble" or "aristocratic." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals of high social standing or noble lineage.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 16th century in parts of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. These regions were once part of the Mughal Empire, which ruled over vast territories from the early 16th to the mid-19th century. It is possible that the name was adopted or bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or rendered distinguished service to the Mughal rulers.

One of the earliest known references to the name Kayani can be found in the imperial records of the Mughal Empire, where it appears as a designation for military commanders and administrators. This lends credence to the theory that the name was initially associated with nobility or positions of power.

In the 18th century, the name Kayani gained prominence in the region of Persia (modern-day Iran) and parts of Central Asia. Records indicate that several influential families and individuals bore this surname during this period, further reinforcing its association with nobility and high social status.

Some notable historical figures with the surname Kayani include:

1. Mirza Muhammad Kayani (1674-1739), a Persian military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
2. Nawab Kayani (1750-1815), a wealthy landowner and influential figure in the region of Punjab during the late 18th century.
3. Rahim Khan Kayani (1812-1879), a prominent leader and diplomat from the Bahawalpur region of modern-day Pakistan.
4. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (born 1952), a former Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistani military and a highly decorated military officer.
5. Qamar Javed Kayani (born 1942), a renowned Pakistani economist and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Punjab.

While the name Kayani has its roots in the Indian subcontinent and Persia, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name remains closely tied to its historical origins and the connotations of nobility and prestige associated with it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kayani

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

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

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

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