2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Moneer
A surname likely derived from the Arabic word "munir," meaning brilliant or shining.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Moneer. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Moneer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Moneer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Moneer, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Moneer
The surname "MONEER" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, possibly in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran or Iraq. It is thought to have emerged as early as the 7th or 8th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age.
One theory suggests that the name may be derived from the Arabic word "munir," which means "radiant" or "enlightened." This could indicate that the surname was initially given to individuals who were considered wise, learned, or spiritually enlightened. Another possibility is that it stems from the Arabic word "manir," which means "luminous" or "shining," perhaps referring to someone who possessed a bright or radiant personality.
In the 11th century, a notable scholar and philosopher named Abu Nasr al-Moneer al-Baghdadi was born in Baghdad, which was then the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Baghdadi, who lived from 1007 to 1071 CE, wrote extensively on metaphysics and Islamic theology, and his works were highly influential during his time and for centuries after.
Another prominent figure with the surname Moneer was Mullah Moneer al-Din, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Persia (modern-day Iran) during the 16th century. He was known for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to the interpretation of religious texts.
In the 19th century, a notable Egyptian poet and writer named Ahmad Moneer Ahmad was born in the city of Tanta. He lived from 1831 to 1896 and was celebrated for his poetic works, which often explored themes of patriotism and social justice.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a prominent family with the surname Moneer played a significant role in the political and cultural life of what was then known as British India. One notable member of this family was Sir Moneer Husain Moneer, who served as the Nawab (ruler) of Tonk, a princely state in present-day Rajasthan, India. He was born in 1878 and was known for his progressive policies and efforts to promote education and social reforms.
Another individual of historical significance who bore the surname Moneer was Moneer Riaz, a Pakistani diplomat and writer who lived from 1928 to 2012. He served as Pakistan's Ambassador to several countries and authored several books on international relations and diplomacy.
While the surname Moneer may have had different spellings or variations in various regions and time periods, it has endured as a distinctive name with roots that can be traced back to the rich cultural and intellectual traditions of the Middle East and the Islamic world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Moneer
Among Census respondents with the surname Moneer, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Moneer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Moneer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.0% · 105
- Asian and Pacific Islander5.9% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Moneer
Moneer appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+15 bearers (+14.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 13,723 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +15 bearers (+14.6%) | Up 13,723 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Moneer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #143,511 | 8.7% |
| Count | 103 | 118 | 14.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 31.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Moneer bearers went from 103 to 118 (+14.6% change). The surname moved up 13,723 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #143,511.
FAQ
Moneer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Moneer?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Moneer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Moneer?
Moneer ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Moneer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Moneer.
Has Moneer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Moneer went from 103 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 15 (+14.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Moneer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Moneer, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Moneer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.0% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Moneer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%), Hispanic (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Moneer (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Moneer mean?
A surname likely derived from the Arabic word "munir," meaning brilliant or shining. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Moneer (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Moneer?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.