2000
#33,471
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 643
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.24
Rare Last name
Noori
An Arabic surname meaning "luminous" or "radiant".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,115 Americans carry the last name Noori. That puts it at #11,150 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.91 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 110,033 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Noori surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Noori with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.1K
1 in 110,033
Census rank
#11,150
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,716 bearers of the surname Noori in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.91 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11150th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Noori, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (24.8%) and Two or More Races (20.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Noori
The surname "NOORI" is believed to have originated from the Persian language, with its roots traced back to ancient Persia, now modern-day Iran. The name is derived from the Persian word "noor," which means "light" or "radiance," suggesting a connection to illumination or brightness.
This surname has a rich historical lineage, and its earliest known records can be found in ancient Persian manuscripts and texts dating back to the 7th century AD. During the Islamic Golden Age, the name was particularly prevalent among scholars, poets, and intellectuals who were renowned for their enlightened thoughts and contributions to various fields of knowledge.
One of the earliest known references to the name "NOORI" can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet, Rumi, who lived during the 13th century. Rumi's poetry often celebrated the concept of divine light and spiritual illumination, making the surname "NOORI" a fitting reflection of these themes.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "NOORI" was Qutb al-Din al-Noori, a Persian astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and timekeeping. His works on celestial mechanics and the refinement of astronomical instruments were highly regarded during his time.
During the 16th century, the name "NOORI" gained further prominence with the birth of Mirza Mohammad Noori, a renowned Persian calligrapher and artist. His masterful calligraphic works adorned numerous manuscripts and architectural marvels, leaving an indelible mark on the artistic heritage of Persia.
In the 18th century, Mirza Abolqasem Noori was a prominent Persian scholar and poet who wrote extensively on various subjects, including philosophy, literature, and mysticism. His works were widely celebrated and influential during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars today.
As the Persian empires expanded and trade routes flourished, the surname "NOORI" spread across the Middle East and Central Asia, with notable bearers of the name emerging in regions such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of the Indian subcontinent.
While the surname "NOORI" has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and can be found among diverse communities worldwide. This rich history and connection to enlightenment and intellectual pursuits have made the surname "NOORI" a source of pride and cultural significance for those who bear it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Noori
Among Census respondents with the surname Noori, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (24.8%) and Two or More Races (20.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Noori bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Noori surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander53.4% · 1,449
- White24.8% · 673
- Two or more races20.1% · 547
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 25
- Black or African American0.6% · 15
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Noori
Noori appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#24,593
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,016
+373 bearers (+58.0%)
Per 100,000 0.34
Rank movement Up 8,878 places
2020
#11,150
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,716
+1,700 bearers (+167.3%)
Per 100,000 0.91
Rank movement Up 13,443 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #33,471 | 643 | 0.24 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #24,593 | 1,016 | 0.34 | +373 bearers (+58.0%) | Up 8,878 places |
| 2020 | #11,150 | 2,716 | 0.91 | +1,700 bearers (+167.3%) | Up 13,443 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Noori surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,593 | #11,150 | 54.7% |
| Count | 1,016 | 2,716 | 167.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.34 | 0.91 | 167.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Noori bearers went from 1,016 to 2,716 (+167.3% change). The surname moved up 13,443 positions in the national ranking, going from #24,593 to #11,150.
FAQ
Noori surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Noori?
Name Census estimates that about 3,115 living Americans carry the surname Noori. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 110,033 residents.
How common is Noori?
Noori ranks #11,150 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.91 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,716 people with the surname Noori. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,115), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.91 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.91 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Noori.
Has Noori become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Noori went from 1,016 recorded bearers to 2,716. That is an increase of 1,700 (+167.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #24,593 to #11,150.
What does the Census say about the background of Noori?
Among Census respondents with the surname Noori, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (24.8%) and Two or More Races (20.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Noori in the 2020 Census, accounting for 53.4% (1,449 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Noori appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (53.4%), White (24.8%), Two or More Races (20.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Noori (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Noori mean?
An Arabic surname meaning "luminous" or "radiant". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Noori (0.91 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Noori?
Want to know how common the surname Noori is? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.