Find out how popular the last name Nishanian is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nishanian.
An occupational surname of Indian origin meaning "night watchman" or "night guard."
Nishanian, 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 Nishanian surname is from the 2010 census data.
Nishanian is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Nishanian surname appeared 129 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 Nishanian.
We can also compare 2010 data for Nishanian 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 | 131379 | 130443 | 0.71% |
| Count | 129 | 120 | 7.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.00% |
The surname "NISHANIAN" is of Armenian origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It has its roots in the region of Nakhichevan, a historic area that is now part of modern-day Azerbaijan. The name is derived from the Armenian word "nshan," which means "sign" or "mark," and it likely referred to a distinguishing physical feature or occupation of the original bearer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "NISHANIAN" appears in a 12th-century Armenian manuscript, where it is mentioned in reference to a wealthy merchant family from the city of Ani. This ancient city, once a thriving center of trade and culture, was located in what is now eastern Turkey near the border with Armenia.
During the Middle Ages, the name "NISHANIAN" began to spread beyond Nakhichevan as Armenians migrated to other regions of the Armenian Highlands and beyond. In the 14th century, records show a "NISHANIAN" family residing in the city of Yerevan, which is now the capital of modern-day Armenia.
Notable individuals with the surname "NISHANIAN" include Movses Nishanian (1829-1888), an Armenian writer and educator who played a significant role in the development of modern Armenian literature. Another prominent figure was Yervant Nishanian (1869-1935), a renowned Armenian composer and conductor who contributed greatly to the preservation and promotion of traditional Armenian music.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Armenians fled their homeland due to persecution and genocide, leading to the dispersal of the "NISHANIAN" name across various parts of the world. One such individual was Arshag Nishanian (1883-1965), an Armenian writer and journalist who settled in Paris and became a prominent figure in the Armenian diaspora community.
Another noteworthy person with the surname "NISHANIAN" was Vahan Nishanian (1908-1991), an Armenian-American artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his works depicting Armenian culture and history. His sculptures can be found in various locations, including the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
While the name "NISHANIAN" has its origins in the historic region of Nakhichevan, it has since become a widely recognized Armenian surname, carried by individuals across the globe who trace their roots back to the ancient Armenian civilization.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nishanian.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nishanian was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 91.47% | 118 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 4.65% | 6 |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Nishanian has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.47% | 89.17% | 2.55% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or More Races | 4.65% | 8.33% | -56.70% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Nishanian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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