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

Nawaz, 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 Nawaz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nawaz in America

Nawaz is the 21599th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nawaz surname appeared 1,208 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 Nawaz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nawaz 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 Nawaz

The surname "NAWAZ" is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "nawwaz," which means "one who bestows favors" or "one who is generous." The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula, where it was likely used as a descriptive nickname or title for individuals who were known for their generosity and charitable nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "NAWAZ" can be found in historical manuscripts and records from the medieval Islamic world. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Abu Nawwaz al-Khurasani, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Khurasan (present-day Iran and Afghanistan) during the 9th century CE.

During the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE), the name gained prominence as it was adopted by several prominent individuals, including Nawaz al-Din al-Baghdadi, a renowned jurist and scholar who lived in Baghdad during the 12th century. Another notable figure was Nawaz Khan, a military commander who served under the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the name "NAWAZ" spread throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. In India, the name became particularly prevalent among Muslims, and it can be found in various historical records and documents from the Mughal period (1526-1857 CE).

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "NAWAZ" was Nawab Saadat Ali Khan II (1752-1838), the Nawab of Awadh (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India). He was a prominent patron of the arts and architecture, and his reign is celebrated for the construction of numerous notable buildings, including the Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.

Another notable figure was Nawaz Ismail Khan (1819-1876), a military commander and governor of the Sikh Empire in the 19th century. He played a crucial role in the First Anglo-Sikh War and was known for his bravery and leadership skills.

In more recent times, Nawaz Sharif (born 1949), a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has brought widespread recognition to the surname "NAWAZ." He served three non-consecutive terms as the Prime Minister and is known for his efforts to promote democracy and economic reforms in Pakistan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nawaz

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

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

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

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