Niz
A surname derived from the Turkish word "niz" meaning spear or lance.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Niz. That puts it at #64,200 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Niz surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#64,200
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
310
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 310 bearers of the surname Niz in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 64200th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Niz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.3%. The next largest groups are White (11.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Niz
The surname "Niz" is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "niz" meaning "spear" or "lance". This name is primarily found in regions with historical Arab influence, particularly in parts of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Niz" can be traced back to the 12th century, during the height of the Moorish rule in Spain. During this period, Arabic names and surnames were commonly adopted by the local population, and "Niz" was likely derived from the occupation or trade of spear-making or soldiery.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name "Niz" was Ali ibn Niz, a renowned poet and scholar from Granada. His poetic works and literary contributions have been preserved in various anthologies and manuscripts from that era.
As the Moorish influence waned in Spain, the surname "Niz" spread to other regions, including Portugal and Morocco. One prominent individual with this surname was Yusuf al-Niz, a 15th-century Moroccan explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the early Portuguese explorations along the West African coast.
During the 16th century, the surname "Niz" gained recognition in the Ottoman Empire, with several notable figures bearing this name. One such individual was Ibrahim Niz Efendi, a high-ranking Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier in the mid-16th century.
Another notable figure with the surname "Niz" was Ahmed Niz, a 17th-century Ottoman historian and chronicler. His works, which documented the Ottoman Empire's history and military campaigns, are considered valuable sources for understanding that era.
In more recent times, the surname "Niz" has been found in various regions of the Arab world, as well as in communities with Arab ancestry in Europe and the Americas. However, the historical records and references from earlier centuries provide a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the surname's origins and significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Niz
Among Census respondents with the surname Niz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.3%. The next largest groups are White (11.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Niz bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Niz surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino82.3%
- White11.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.2%
- Black or African American1.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Niz surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #100,194 | #64,200 | 35.9% |
| Count | 167 | 310 | 85.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.11 | 83.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Niz bearers went from 167 to 310 (+85.6% change). The surname moved up 35,994 positions in the national ranking, going from #100,194 to #64,200.
FAQ
Niz surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Niz?
The surname Niz holds position #64,200 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Niz surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Niz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.3%. The next largest groups are White (11.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.