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

Nur, 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 Nur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nur in America

Nur is the 15857th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nur surname appeared 1,835 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Nur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nur 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 Nur

The surname NUR originated in present-day Turkey, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Persian word 'nur', meaning 'light' or 'radiance'. The name likely emerged as a descriptive term for individuals who were perceived as enlightened or radiant in their demeanor or character.

During the Ottoman Empire, the name NUR appeared in various official records and registers, particularly in regions like Anatolia and the Balkans. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 14th-century manuscript detailing tax records from the city of Bursa.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Nur al-Din al-Bitlisi (1437-1520) gained prominence as a Kurdish historian and scholar. His works, such as "Sharafnama" and "Hadiqat al-Haqiqat," shed light on the history and culture of the region during that period.

Another prominent individual bearing the name NUR was Nur Banu Valide Sultan (1556-1583), the wife of Ottoman Sultan Selim II and the mother of Sultan Murad III. She played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the Ottoman Empire during her lifetime.

In the 17th century, Nur al-Din al-Raniri (1600-1658), a scholar and Sufi mystic from Ranir, India, made significant contributions to the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Malay Archipelago.

Moving into the 19th century, Nur Jahan (1577-1645), the wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was a prominent figure in the Indian subcontinent. She wielded considerable political influence and is remembered for her patronage of the arts and architecture.

Throughout history, the surname NUR has been associated with various places and regions, including Nur, a city in modern-day Iran, and Nur-Abad, a town in Balochistan, Pakistan. The name has also been linked to the Nur Jahan Mosque in Agra, India, named after the Mughal empress.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nur

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

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

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

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