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

Miah, 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 Miah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Miah in America

Miah is the 12602nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Miah surname appeared 2,456 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Miah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Miah 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 Miah

The surname "MIAH" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Bengal, which is now divided between modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The name is thought to have derived from the Arabic word "Mia," which means "master" or "leader."

In the medieval period, the name was commonly used as a title or honorific for respected individuals, particularly those involved in religious or scholarly pursuits. As time passed, the title became more closely associated with certain families and eventually evolved into a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "MIAH" can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This work contains references to several individuals with the surname, indicating its widespread use in the region at that time.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records and manuscripts from the Bengal region, often in connection with influential families or individuals involved in trade, education, or religious activities.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname "MIAH" include:

1. Miah Muhammad Saifuddin (1567-1625), a renowned Islamic scholar and writer from Bengal who authored several influential works on theology and jurisprudence.

2. Miah Bairam Khan (1562-1624), a prominent military commander and governor under the Mughal Empire, known for his loyalty and bravery on the battlefield.

3. Miah Mohsin Ali Khan (1737-1806), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Dhaka, who funded the construction of several mosques, schools, and charitable institutions in the region.

4. Miah Gholam Mustafa (1766-1838), a celebrated poet and writer from Bengal who composed numerous works in the Bengali language, contributing significantly to the region's literary heritage.

5. Miah Titumir (1782-1831), a renowned leader of the Faraizi movement, which sought to revive Islamic practices and oppose the British colonial rule in Bengal.

The name "MIAH" has also been associated with various place names and localities in the Bengal region, reflecting the historical presence and influence of families bearing this surname in those areas. Examples include the village of Miah Bazar in Sylhet, Bangladesh, and the town of Miah Ghat in West Bengal, India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Miah

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

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

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

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