Mazar
A surname of Slavic or Iranian origin referring to someone from Mazar, a place name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Mazar. That puts it at #55,619 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mazar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#55,619
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
369
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 369 bearers of the surname Mazar in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 55619th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mazar, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mazar
The surname MAZAR is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. It is thought to be derived from the Persian word "mazar," which means "tomb" or "shrine." This suggests that the name may have been associated with people who lived near or worked at a mazar or holy site.
The earliest known records of the MAZAR surname date back to the 13th century, when it was mentioned in Persian manuscripts and historical documents. One notable mention is in the "Tadhkirat al-Awliya," a biographical work written by the Persian poet and scholar Farid al-Din Attar in the late 12th century, which includes references to individuals with the surname MAZAR.
In the 14th century, the MAZAR name appeared in various Persian and Arabic texts, often in connection with religious scholars, poets, and other notable figures. For example, Nur al-Din Muhammad MAZAR, a renowned Persian poet and scholar, lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
During the Timurid and Safavid eras in Persia (modern-day Iran and parts of Central Asia), the MAZAR surname was relatively common among the educated classes and those associated with religious institutions and shrines. One notable figure from this period was Mirza Muhammad MAZAR, a 16th-century Persian calligrapher and poet.
As the Islamic empires expanded and trade routes opened up, the MAZAR surname spread to other parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. In the 17th century, there are records of individuals with the MAZAR surname in regions like modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
One prominent figure with the MAZAR surname was Mir Qutb al-Din Muhammad MAZAR, a 17th-century Indian scholar and poet who wrote extensively on Sufism and Islamic philosophy. Another notable individual was Mirza Asadullah Khan MAZAR, an 18th-century Indian nobleman and poet who served as the governor of Lahore under the Mughal Empire.
As the centuries progressed, the MAZAR surname continued to be found in various parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, often associated with religious, scholarly, or literary pursuits. However, it is important to note that this is a broad overview, and the specific origins and histories of individuals with the MAZAR surname may vary.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mazar
Among Census respondents with the surname Mazar, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Mazar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mazar surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9%
- Hispanic or Latino4.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.2%
- Unknown or suppressed1.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mazar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,609 | #55,619 | -0.0% |
| Count | 345 | 369 | 7.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mazar bearers went from 345 to 369 (+7.0% change). The surname moved down 10 positions in the national ranking, going from #55,609 to #55,619.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mazar
FAQ
Mazar surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mazar?
The surname Mazar holds position #55,619 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mazar surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mazar, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.