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

Noorani, 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 Noorani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Noorani in America

Noorani is the 32203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Noorani surname appeared 716 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 Noorani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Noorani 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 Noorani

The surname NOORANI is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of modern-day Pakistan and India. It is derived from the Arabic word "Nur," which means light or illumination, and the suffix "-ani" or "-ani," which signifies a relation or connection.

The earliest recorded instances of the NOORANI surname can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was likely used to identify individuals or families with a connection to religious or spiritual pursuits. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were considered enlightened or illuminated by divine knowledge or spiritual guidance.

One notable historical reference to the NOORANI surname can be found in the Persian literary work "Gulistan," written by the renowned poet Saadi Shirazi in the 13th century. In this work, Saadi mentions a character named "Noorani," though it is unclear whether this was a real person or a fictional character.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, the NOORANI surname was associated with individuals who held positions of influence and authority within the imperial court or religious institutions. For example, Mullah Noorani was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist who served as the chief justice during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Another notable figure with the NOORANI surname was Mirza Noorani Baig Khan, an influential nobleman and military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. He played a significant role in the administration of the empire and is remembered for his bravery and loyalty.

In the 19th century, the NOORANI surname gained prominence in the realm of literature and poetry. One of the most celebrated poets of this era was Mirza Ghalib, whose full name was Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan Noorani Ghalib. Born in 1797 in Agra, India, Ghalib is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Urdu language and is celebrated for his mastery of poetic forms and his profound insights into human nature.

Another prominent figure with the NOORANI surname was Sir Firoz Khan Noorani, a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court in British India during the early 20th century. He was known for his integrity, fairness, and commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Throughout history, the NOORANI surname has been associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including scholars, poets, noblemen, and legal professionals. While the name has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Noorani

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Noorani, 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!