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

Nawab, 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 Nawab surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nawab in America

Nawab is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nawab surname appeared 242 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 Nawab.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nawab 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 Nawab

The surname "NAWAB" is of Indian origin and dates back to the 16th century Mughal Empire. It derived from the Persian word "Nawwab," which means "viceroy" or "ruler of a province." The Nawabs were appointed by the Mughal emperors to govern various regions of the empire.

During the Mughal era, the title "Nawab" was bestowed upon prominent individuals who displayed loyalty and exceptional service to the empire. As the Mughal Empire expanded, more provinces were established, and the number of Nawabs increased. Over time, the title became hereditary, and some families retained the surname "NAWAB" as a mark of their lineage and association with the Mughal aristocracy.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname "NAWAB" can be found in the chronicles of the Mughal Empire, which documented the appointments and achievements of various Nawabs. For instance, Nawab Mir Qasim Ali Khan (1737-1777) was a prominent figure who served as the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa from 1760 to 1763.

Another notable figure was Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula (1748-1797), the Nawab of Awadh (now part of Uttar Pradesh), who played a significant role in the political landscape of the late 18th century. He was known for his patronage of the arts and architecture, and his capital, Lucknow, became a center of cultural and intellectual development.

The surname "NAWAB" was also associated with various princely states that emerged after the decline of the Mughal Empire. For example, the Nawabs of Bahawalpur, a princely state in present-day Pakistan, ruled from 1690 to 1966. The first Nawab of Bahawalpur was Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan I (1629-1701), whose descendants continued to govern the region until its accession to Pakistan.

Another notable figure with the surname "NAWAB" was Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan (1886-1967), the last Nizam of Hyderabad, one of the wealthiest and most influential rulers of his time. He ruled the princely state of Hyderabad from 1911 until its accession to India in 1948.

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (1822-1887) was the last Nawab of Awadh. He was known for his patronage of arts, music, and dance, and his reign marked the cultural and artistic zenith of the Awadh region.

The surname "NAWAB" continues to be prevalent in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions that were once under the influence of the Mughal Empire or associated with princely states. It serves as a reminder of the rich historical legacy and the influential role played by the Nawabs in shaping the cultural, political, and social landscape of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nawab

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

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

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

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