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

Nawabi, 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 Nawabi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nawabi in America

Nawabi is the 42378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nawabi surname appeared 512 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 Nawabi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nawabi 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 Nawabi

The surname NAWABI has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Persian word "Nawab," which means "viceroy" or "provincial governor" in Urdu and other South Asian languages. The name is closely associated with the Mughal Empire, which ruled over a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century.

During the Mughal era, the title of "Nawab" was bestowed upon high-ranking officials and noblemen who held administrative positions in various provinces and territories. These individuals often wielded significant power and influence within their respective domains. The surname NAWABI is believed to have been adopted by the descendants and families of these Nawabs, signifying their association with the ruling elite.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname NAWABI can be found in the historical accounts of the Mughal court chronicles, which documented the lives and achievements of various Nawabs and their families. These chronicles provide valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of the Nawabs, as well as their influence on the cultural and political landscape of the region.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname NAWABI is Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (1822-1887), the last Nawab of Awadh (present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was known for his patronage of the arts, particularly in the fields of music, dance, and poetry. Another prominent figure was Nawab Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1691-1765), who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Plassey, which marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.

Another well-known bearer of the NAWABI surname was Nawab Sikandar Begum (1816-1868), the ruling Begum (Princess) of the princely state of Bhopal from 1847 to 1868. She was renowned for her progressive reforms and her efforts to modernize the state's administration, education, and infrastructure.

In the realm of literature, Nawab Mirza Khan Anju (1756-1835), better known as Ghalib, was a celebrated Urdu and Persian poet whose works have left an indelible mark on South Asian literature. His poetic legacy and the use of the NAWABI surname have contributed to the cultural richness associated with this name.

It is worth noting that while the surname NAWABI is rooted in the historical context of the Mughal Empire and its administrative hierarchy, it has since transcended its original connotations and is now widely used across various communities and regions within the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nawabi

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

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

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

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