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

Masih, 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 Masih surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Masih in America

Masih is the 24112th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masih surname appeared 1,044 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 Masih.

We can also compare 2010 data for Masih 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 Masih

The surname MASIH has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

MASIH is derived from the Arabic word "Masih," which means "anointed one" or "messiah." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were considered pious or revered within their communities. It is also possible that the name was adopted by those who had converted to Islam, as a way to signify their newfound religious identity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MASIH can be found in the chronicles of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 16th century. The name appears in various court records and historical documents from this period, indicating its prevalence among the nobility and scholarly classes.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, the surname MASIH gained further prominence. Several notable figures with this last name emerged during this time, including Maulana Masih ud-Din Alam (1570-1640), a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who served as a tutor to the Mughal princes.

Another prominent bearer of the MASIH surname was Mir Masih al-Din Salim (1670-1737), a renowned calligrapher and poet who served at the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His exquisite calligraphic works are still preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

In the 18th century, Mirza Masih ud-Din Khan (1753-1815) was a prominent military commander and statesman who served under the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Durrani. He played a crucial role in the consolidation of Afghan power in the region and is remembered for his military prowess and strategic acumen.

During the British Raj in India, the MASIH surname continued to be prominent, with several individuals making significant contributions to various fields. One notable figure was Sir Masih Yar Khan (1865-1936), a prominent politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of the Princely State of Bahawalpur.

Another illustrious bearer of the MASIH surname was Masih Wilayat Hussain (1877-1949), a renowned scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in the establishment of numerous educational institutions in British India. He was also a prolific writer and authored several books on Islamic theology and philosophy.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and significance of the surname MASIH, which has been associated with individuals of great prominence and achievement across various eras and regions of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masih

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

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

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

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