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

Pathan, 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 Pathan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pathan in America

Pathan is the 44500th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pathan surname appeared 483 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 Pathan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pathan 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 Pathan

The surname Pathan is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "fath" which means "conquest" or "victory." The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula and was later adopted by Muslim conquerors who spread Islam to various parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent.

The Pathans are an ethnic group predominantly found in modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are known for their warrior traditions and have played a significant role in the history of the region. The name Pathan is associated with the Pashtun people, who are considered to be the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pathan can be found in the writings of the famous Arab traveler and geographer, Al-Idrisi, who lived in the 12th century. He mentioned the Pathans in his work, describing them as a powerful and influential tribe in the region.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, the Pathans played a crucial role in the military and administration. Several notable Pathan figures emerged during this period, including Akbar Khan (1542-1605), a renowned general and military commander, and Dost Mohammad Khan (1793-1863), the founder of the Barakzai dynasty and the first Emir of Afghanistan.

Another prominent Pathan figure was Khushal Khan Khattak (1613-1689), a warrior-poet who is regarded as the national poet of Afghanistan. His literary works, written in the Pashto language, are considered a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of the Pashtun people.

In the 19th century, the Pathans played a significant role in the Anglo-Afghan Wars, which were a series of conflicts between the British Empire and the Afghan tribes. One of the most famous Pathan leaders during this time was Akbar Khan (1816-1845), the son of Dost Mohammad Khan, who led the Afghan forces against the British in the First Anglo-Afghan War.

Throughout history, the name Pathan has been associated with bravery, valor, and a strong sense of honor. It has been carried by many influential figures who have left their mark on the cultural, political, and military landscapes of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pathan

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

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

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

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