Mehari
An occupational surname referring to someone who owned or worked with camels.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Mehari. That puts it at #44,576 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mehari 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
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#44,576
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
482
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 482 bearers of the surname Mehari in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 44576th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mehari, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mehari
The surname MEHARI originated in India, and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Meha', which means 'rainwater'. It is believed to have been first used as a surname in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire.
The earliest recorded use of the surname MEHARI can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a detailed document written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which describes the administration and governance of his empire. This document mentions several individuals with the surname MEHARI who held important positions in the imperial court.
In the 17th century, the surname MEHARI was also found in various Persian manuscripts and records, indicating that it had gained popularity among the Persian-speaking communities of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure from this period was Mirza Mohammad Mehari, a renowned poet and scholar who lived from 1620 to 1685.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the MEHARI surname spread across various regions of India, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country. Several individuals with this surname achieved prominence in various fields, such as Rai Bahadur Shyam Sundar Mehari (1848-1922), a prominent lawyer and social reformer from Punjab.
Another notable figure was Pandit Gulab Rai Mehari (1875-1947), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author from Rajasthan. He wrote several books on Hindu philosophy and literature, and his works are still widely studied today.
In the 20th century, the MEHARI surname continued to be well-represented in various professions. One prominent individual was Dr. Balwant Mehari (1901-1978), a distinguished physician and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the field of tropical medicine.
Another notable figure was Govind Mehari (1920-2005), a renowned Urdu poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh. He received several prestigious literary awards and honors during his lifetime, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.
While the surname MEHARI has its roots in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide a glimpse into the rich heritage and legacy associated with this surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mehari
Among Census respondents with the surname Mehari, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Mehari 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 Mehari surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- Two or more races1.4%
- White1.0%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mehari 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 | #78,838 | #44,576 | 43.5% |
| Count | 225 | 482 | 114.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.16 | 100.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mehari bearers went from 225 to 482 (+114.2% change). The surname moved up 34,262 positions in the national ranking, going from #78,838 to #44,576.
FAQ
Mehari surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mehari?
The surname Mehari holds position #44,576 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mehari surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mehari, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). 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.