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

Pak, 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 Pak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pak in America

Pak is the 3308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pak surname appeared 10,846 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Pak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pak 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 Pak

The surname "Pak" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, the word "pak" means "to cook" or "to mature," suggesting that the name may have been associated with professions related to cooking or agriculture in its early history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Pak" can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document from the Mughal Empire. This text mentions a village called "Pakpattan" in present-day Pakistan, which may have been named after an individual with the surname "Pak."

During the medieval period, the "Pak" surname was particularly prevalent in the Punjab region, which spans parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. The name appeared in various historical documents, including land records and local chronicles, indicating its widespread use among certain communities in this area.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname "Pak" was Haji Pak Muhammad, a prominent Muslim scholar and religious leader from Multan, Pakistan. He was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts in promoting education and social reform.

Another notable individual with the "Pak" surname was Munshi Pak Chand, a 19th-century Indian writer and poet from Uttar Pradesh. He was renowned for his literary works in the Urdu and Braj Bhasha languages, and his poetry often explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary.

In the 20th century, one of the most influential figures with the "Pak" surname was Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Born in 1876 in Karachi, Jinnah played a pivotal role in the independence movement of British India and became the first Governor-General of the newly formed nation of Pakistan in 1947.

Another notable individual with the "Pak" surname was Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah, a Pakistani writer, diplomat, and political figure. Born in 1915 in Calcutta, she was actively involved in the Pakistani independence movement and later served as Pakistan's ambassador to several countries, including Morocco and Spain.

The surname "Pak" has also been associated with various place names in South Asia, such as Pakpattan in Pakistan and Pakur in India. These place names may have derived from individuals with the "Pak" surname who settled in those areas or played significant roles in their history.

While the surname "Pak" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of South Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pak

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

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

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

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