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

Kureshi, 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 Kureshi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kureshi in America

Kureshi is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kureshi surname appeared 110 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 Kureshi.

The history of the last name Kureshi

The surname KURESHI has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "kurish," which translates to "graceful" or "elegant." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who possessed these qualities or perhaps worked in a profession that required such attributes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KURESHI surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions a certain Mirza Abdul Baqi Kureshi, who served as a prominent courtier and advisor to the emperor.

During the Mughal era, the KURESHI name was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, such as present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Over time, the name spread to other parts of the region, including modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In the 18th century, the KURESHI surname gained further recognition through the work of Shah Waliullah Dehlavi, a renowned Islamic scholar and reformist born in 1703 in Delhi. His teachings and writings had a profound impact on the Islamic revivalist movement in South Asia, and he is often referred to as the "Mujaddid" (Reviver) of his time.

Another notable figure bearing the KURESHI surname was Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib Kureshi, better known simply as Ghalib. Born in 1797 in Agra, he is regarded as one of the most influential poets of the Urdu language. His works, including the famous Divan-e-Ghalib, are celebrated for their depth, elegance, and mastery of the ghazal form.

In more recent history, the KURESHI name has been associated with several prominent individuals. These include Abid Ali Kureshi, an eminent Pakistani lawyer and former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, born in 1931, and Rusi Kureshi, an Indian painter and sculptor born in 1944, known for his vibrant and imaginative works.

It is worth noting that the KURESHI surname has also been found in various regions of the Middle East, possibly due to the historical trade and cultural exchanges between the Indian subcontinent and the Persian Gulf region. However, the origins and specific lineages of these bearers of the name may differ from those of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kureshi

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

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

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

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