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

Merkwan, 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 Merkwan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merkwan in America

Merkwan is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merkwan surname appeared 144 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 Merkwan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Merkwan 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 Merkwan

The surname Merkwan is believed to have originated in the region of Merkwandy, a small village located in the northern part of modern-day Iran. Its roots can be traced back to the 9th century, during the height of the Persian Empire.

The name itself is derived from the ancient Persian words "merk," meaning "boundary," and "wan," which translates to "keeper" or "guardian." This suggests that the surname initially referred to individuals who were responsible for guarding the borders or boundaries of a particular area or territory.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Merkwan can be found in the "Shahnameh," an epic Persian poem written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. The poem describes a character named Merkwan ibn Kabus, a brave warrior and protector of the realm.

In the 12th century, a renowned scholar and philosopher named Merkwan al-Shirazi gained widespread recognition for his contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. Born in the city of Shiraz in 1092, he authored several influential works that were widely studied throughout the Islamic world.

During the Mongol invasion of Persia in the 13th century, a prominent military leader named Merkwan Khan played a crucial role in defending the city of Tabriz against the invading forces. His bravery and strategic leadership were recorded in various historical accounts of the time.

In the 16th century, a Persian calligrapher named Merkwan al-Katib gained fame for his exquisite calligraphic works, which adorned the walls of numerous mosques and palaces throughout the region. His masterpieces are still celebrated today as some of the finest examples of Persian calligraphy.

Another notable figure with the surname Merkwan was Mirza Merkwan Khan, a prominent 19th-century statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Persia (now Iran) to several European courts, including those of Russia and Britain. His diplomatic efforts played a significant role in strengthening relations between Persia and Western nations during that era.

While the surname Merkwan has its roots in ancient Persia, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. However, it remains most prevalent in Iran and among communities with Persian heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merkwan

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

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

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

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