Rahimi last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Rahimi

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "merciful" or "compassionate".

Rahimi, 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 Rahimi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rahimi in America

Rahimi is the 16582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rahimi surname appeared 1,730 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 Rahimi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rahimi 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 16582 21406 -25.40%
Count 1,730 1,139 41.20%
Proportion per 100k 0.59 0.42 33.66%

The history of the last name Rahimi

The surname Rahimi has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages in what is now modern-day Iran. The name is derived from the Arabic word "rahim," which means "merciful" or "compassionate." It is believed to have been initially used as a descriptive name, referring to individuals who were known for their kindness and compassion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rahimi can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the Safavid dynasty, where a nobleman by the name of Ahmad Rahimi is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already gained prominence among the Persian nobility during that period.

In the 14th century, the name Rahimi appeared in a collection of Persian poetry, where a poet known as Mehdi Rahimi was celebrated for his eloquent verses. This literary reference indicates that the name was also associated with artistic and intellectual pursuits.

During the Qajar dynasty in the 19th century, a prominent military commander named Hossein Rahimi played a significant role in the defense of the Persian Empire against foreign invaders. His bravery and leadership skills earned him recognition, and his name became synonymous with valor and patriotism.

Another notable figure in Persian history bearing the surname Rahimi was Fatima Rahimi, a pioneering women's rights activist in the early 20th century. She fought tirelessly for the education and empowerment of women, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of Iranian women.

Other influential individuals with the surname Rahimi include Mohammad Rahimi, a renowned Persian architect who designed several iconic buildings in the 16th century, and Reza Rahimi, a celebrated Persian calligrapher whose works are celebrated for their intricate and beautiful designs.

While the surname Rahimi has its roots in ancient Persia, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly among Persian diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply tied to the rich cultural heritage of Iran.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rahimi

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

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 Rahimi was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 65.90% 1,140
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 5.95% 103
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 24.97% 432
Hispanic Origin 2.43% 42

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 Rahimi has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 65.90% 67.16% -1.89%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 5.95% 6.67% -11.41%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 24.97% 23.71% 5.18%
Hispanic 2.43% 1.84% 27.63%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rahimi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 15, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rahimi-surname-popularity/.

"Rahimi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rahimi-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 October, 2024

Rahimi last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rahimi-surname-popularity/.

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