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

Nish, 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 Nish surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nish in America

Nish is the 46138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nish surname appeared 462 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 Nish.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nish 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 Nish

The surname NISH has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "nisha," meaning "night" or "darkness." This surname was initially adopted by families residing in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the areas now known as Punjab and Haryana.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NISH can be found in the Akbar Nama, a historical chronicle written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). In this manuscript, a nobleman named Nish Khan is mentioned as a trusted advisor to the emperor. This reference provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the 16th century.

The NISH surname has also been associated with several notable historical figures. Rai Nish Chand (1670-1743) was a renowned poet and writer from the Mughal era, whose works have significantly contributed to the literary heritage of the Indian subcontinent. Another notable bearer of this surname was Nish Narayan (1790-1858), a prominent social reformer and educator who played a crucial role in the establishment of modern education systems in the region.

In the 19th century, the NISH surname gained further recognition with the birth of Nish Ratan (1825-1892), a celebrated scholar and linguist. His contributions to the study of ancient Indian languages and literature have been widely acclaimed. Additionally, Nish Anand (1860-1935) was a pioneering entrepreneur who established successful businesses in various industries, including textiles and agriculture.

It is worth mentioning that the surname NISH has also been linked to several place names in the Indian subcontinent. For instance, the town of Nishat Bagh in Kashmir is believed to have derived its name from the NISH surname, reflecting the influence and presence of families bearing this surname in the region.

Throughout history, the NISH surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from scholars and writers to entrepreneurs and social reformers. While the surname may have evolved and taken on different spellings over time, its roots can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nish

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

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

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

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