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

Nihan, 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 Nihan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nihan in America

Nihan is the 116201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nihan surname appeared 150 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 Nihan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nihan 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 Nihan

The surname NIHAN has its origins in the Middle East, believed to have emerged during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "nihan," which means "secret" or "hidden." The name's roots can be traced back to regions like modern-day Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Levant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NIHAN surname can be found in historical documents from the 14th century, where it was mentioned in relation to a prominent family residing in the city of Baghdad. This family was known for their expertise in various fields, including calligraphy, poetry, and Islamic jurisprudence.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule, the NIHAN name gained further recognition, particularly among scholars and intellectuals. In the 16th century, a renowned scholar named Ibrahim al-NIHAN (1470-1535) made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics, earning him a place in the annals of Ottoman history.

As the centuries passed, the NIHAN surname spread across the Middle East and eventually found its way to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the NIHAN name was Fatima al-NIHAN (1720-1795), a celebrated poet and philosopher from Damascus, whose works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.

The 19th century witnessed the rise of Ahmad al-NIHAN (1810-1875), a prominent diplomat and statesman from Egypt. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in fostering relations between the Ottoman Empire and various European powers during a period of significant political and cultural transformation.

In more recent times, the NIHAN surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. One such notable figure was Amir NIHAN (1920-2005), an acclaimed novelist and playwright from Lebanon, whose works explored the complexities of Arab identity and the struggle for independence during the mid-20th century.

It is worth noting that while the NIHAN surname has its roots in the Middle East, it has since been adopted by individuals from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds around the world, each adding their own unique stories and contributions to the tapestry of this intriguing surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nihan

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

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

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

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