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

Punjwani, 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 Punjwani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Punjwani in America

Punjwani is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Punjwani surname appeared 151 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 Punjwani.

The history of the last name Punjwani

The surname Punjwani has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the Punjab region that spans parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century.

The name Punjwani is derived from the word "Punjab," which is a combination of two Persian words: "punj" meaning five, and "ab" meaning water or river. This refers to the five major rivers that flow through the region – the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. The suffix "-wani" or "-vani" is a common patronymic or territorial marker in many South Asian languages, indicating belonging or origin.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the Punjwani name can be found in historical texts and manuscripts from the Mughal era in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is likely that the name was initially associated with individuals or families who hailed from the Punjab region or had ties to it.

One notable figure bearing the Punjwani surname was Mirza Ghalib, a renowned Urdu poet who lived from 1797 to 1869. Though his full name was Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, he was also known as Mirza Ghalib Punjwani, possibly due to his ancestry or connections to the Punjab region.

Another prominent individual with the Punjwani surname was Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, who was the 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims. Born in 1877 and passing away in 1957, he played a significant role in advocating for the rights and welfare of Muslims in British India and beyond.

In the 20th century, Begum Zahida Punjwani was a notable Pakistani politician and activist. She served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and was actively involved in women's rights and social welfare initiatives.

Historically, variations in the spelling of the name have been observed, such as Punjvani, Panjwani, or Panjvanee, reflecting regional linguistic differences and transliterations.

It is worth noting that the Punjwani surname is not limited to any specific religious or ethnic group, as the Punjab region has been home to diverse communities throughout its history. The name has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Punjwani

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

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 Punjwani 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.

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

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

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