Nimri last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Nimri

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "leopard" or "tiger".

Nimri, 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 Nimri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nimri in America

Nimri is the 89753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nimri surname appeared 206 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 Nimri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nimri 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 89753 113519 -23.38%
Count 206 143 36.10%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.05 33.33%

The history of the last name Nimri

The surname NIMRI has its origins in the Middle East, tracing back to the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 7th to 11th centuries AD.

One of the earliest known references to the name NIMRI can be found in ancient Arabic texts and manuscripts, where it was sometimes spelled as "Nimri" or "Numri." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the evolution of the Arabic script over time.

The name NIMRI is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "namir," which means "leopard" or "tiger." This connection suggests that the surname may have been initially given to individuals with a fierce or brave nature, or perhaps as a nickname for someone known for their agility or hunting skills.

In the 13th century, records from the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria mention a prominent military commander named Al-Nimri, who played a significant role in the region's history during that period. This early use of the name suggests that NIMRI had already established itself as a distinguished surname among certain Arab communities.

Another notable figure bearing the surname NIMRI was Ibrahim Al-Nimri, a 15th-century scholar and poet from Mecca, Saudi Arabia. His works, which included religious poetry and treatises on Islamic jurisprudence, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and have been preserved in various historical collections.

In the 19th century, a prominent family known as the Nimri clan held substantial influence in the region of Hail, located in present-day Saudi Arabia. This family played a crucial role in the political and social dynamics of the area, with several members serving as rulers and advisors.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname NIMRI was Khalid Al-Nimri, a renowned Arab novelist and playwright from Syria, born in 1939. His literary works, which often explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues, garnered critical acclaim and made him a prominent figure in the Arab literary world.

It's worth noting that while the surname NIMRI has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide insights into the name's rich heritage and significance within the Arab world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nimri

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

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 Nimri was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 85.92% 177
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 3.88% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 6.31% 13
Hispanic Origin 2.43% 5

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 Nimri has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 85.92% 89.51% -4.09%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 3.88% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 6.31% 7.69% -19.71%
Hispanic 2.43% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Nimri last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/nimri-surname-popularity/.

"Nimri last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/nimri-surname-popularity/. Accessed 5 August, 2025

Nimri last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/nimri-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.