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

Naz, 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 Naz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naz in America

Naz is the 31184th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naz surname appeared 744 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 Naz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naz 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 Naz

The surname "Naz" is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "Naaz" meaning "delicate" or "tender". This name is predominantly found in regions with significant Muslim populations, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa.

The earliest known records of the surname "Naz" can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in various Islamic manuscripts and historical documents from regions like Persia (modern-day Iran) and the Indian subcontinent. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals who possessed a refined and graceful demeanor.

In the 13th century, the name gained prominence in parts of modern-day Turkey, where it was linked to several influential figures in the Ottoman Empire. One notable person was Naz Bey, a high-ranking military commander who played a crucial role in the expansion of Ottoman territories during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II in the mid-15th century.

As Muslim traders and travelers ventured across the Indian Ocean, the surname "Naz" found its way to regions like Indonesia and Malaysia, where it became associated with local communities that embraced Islam. In the 16th century, historical records from the Sultanate of Malacca mention a prominent merchant named Naz al-Din, who facilitated trade between the Malay Archipelago and the Middle East.

During the Mughal Empire in India, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th century, the surname "Naz" was often borne by individuals from the aristocratic classes and those associated with the royal courts. One notable figure was Naz Begum, a female poet and courtesan who lived in the 17th century and was renowned for her literary works and cultural influence.

In more recent times, the surname "Naz" has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Naz Ikramullah (1915-1963), a pioneering Pakistani diplomat and women's rights activist, and Naz Khialvi (1936-2011), a renowned Pakistani poet and writer known for his contributions to Urdu literature.

While the surname "Naz" has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic cultural traditions, it has since spread and taken on various local variations and spellings across different regions, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations of people over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naz

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

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

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

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