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

Mahmood, 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 Mahmood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mahmood in America

Mahmood is the 6335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mahmood surname appeared 5,384 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Mahmood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mahmood 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 Mahmood

The surname Mahmood has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions that are now known as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Muhammad," which means "praised one" or "praiseworthy."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mahmood can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and the early days of Islam. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this surname were either direct descendants or followers of the Prophet Muhammad, who adopted the name as a mark of respect and reverence.

In the centuries that followed, the surname Mahmood spread across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as parts of Central and South Asia, as Islam expanded its reach. The name can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from these regions, including records of trade, governance, and religious texts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahmood is found in the writings of the 9th century Arab scholar and historian, Al-Tabari, who mentions a person named Mahmood ibn Ismail, a military commander during the Abbasid Caliphate. Another notable figure bearing the surname Mahmood is Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi, a 10th century ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, which spanned parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Mahmood gained prominence during the Delhi Sultanate period, which lasted from the 13th to the 16th century. One of the most famous rulers of this period was Sultan Mahmood Shah Khalji, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1436 to 1469 CE. Another notable figure was Mahmood Begarha, the sultan of Gujarat from 1459 to 1511 CE, who was known for his architectural contributions, including the construction of the famous Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad.

Over the centuries, the surname Mahmood has been adopted by people of various ethnicities and cultures, particularly those with Muslim heritage or connections to the regions where the name originated. Some other notable historical figures bearing this surname include Mahmood Ayaz, a 12th century Turkish commander in the service of the Seljuk Empire, and Mahmood Gawan, a 15th century Persian poet and statesman who served under the Timurid dynasty.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mahmood

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

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

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

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