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

Polat, 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 Polat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polat in America

Polat is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polat surname appeared 123 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 Polat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polat 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 Polat

The surname Polat originated from the Turkish language, with its roots dating back to the Ottoman Empire era. It is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "polat," which means "steel" or "sword." This name was likely given to individuals who excelled in metalworking or warfare, or perhaps as a metaphor for strength and resilience.

The earliest recorded instances of the Polat surname can be traced to the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It is possible that the name was associated with skilled blacksmiths or warriors who served in the Ottoman military forces. Some historical records from this period mention individuals with the surname Polat residing in various regions of the empire, including Anatolia, the Balkans, and the Levant.

One notable figure bearing the Polat surname was Mustafa Polat, a 17th-century Ottoman calligrapher renowned for his mastery of the Diwani and Naskh scripts. His works were highly regarded and can still be found adorning the walls of mosques and palaces throughout the former Ottoman territories.

In the 18th century, the Polat surname appeared in several Ottoman administrative records, suggesting that individuals with this name held positions of authority or influence within the bureaucracy. A prominent example is Ahmed Polat Efendi, who served as the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the Ottoman Empire from 1776 to 1777.

During the 19th century, as the Ottoman Empire began to modernize and adopt Western-style surnames, the Polat surname gained wider recognition. One notable figure from this era was Mehmet Polat Pasha, a distinguished military commander who played a crucial role in the Crimean War (1853-1856) and the Ottoman-Russian War (1877-1878).

As the Ottoman Empire transitioned into the Republic of Turkey in the early 20th century, the Polat surname continued to be prevalent. Halil Polat, a renowned author and journalist, was born in 1891 and contributed significantly to the literary and cultural landscape of modern Turkey through his works and activism.

Throughout its history, the Polat surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, politicians, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to the Ottoman era, the name has endured and continues to be a recognizable part of Turkish heritage and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polat

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

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

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

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