2000
#55,376
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 347
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.13
Very Rare Last name
Rezai
A surname of Persian/Iranian origin meaning "weaver".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 698 Americans carry the last name Rezai. That puts it at #39,043 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 491,052 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rezai surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Rezai with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
698
1 in 491,052
Census rank
#39,043
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
609
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 609 bearers of the surname Rezai in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 39043rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rezai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.3%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.8%) and Two or More Races (14.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rezai
The surname "REZAI" is believed to have originated in Iran, where it is thought to have derived from the Persian word "rez," meaning "to pour" or "to flow." This name may have initially been associated with individuals who worked in occupations related to pouring or flowing liquids, such as winemakers, water carriers, or irrigation workers.
The earliest recorded instances of the name "REZAI" can be traced back to the 14th century during the Ilkhanate period in Persia. Several manuscripts and historical documents from that era mention individuals bearing this surname, indicating its presence in various regions of present-day Iran.
One notable individual with the surname "REZAI" was Mirza Mohammad Reza'i, a renowned Iranian philosopher and scholar who lived in the 16th century. His works on Islamic theology and ethics were highly influential during his lifetime and continue to be studied by scholars today.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Mirza Reza'i served as a high-ranking official in the court of Nader Shah, the ruler of the Afsharid dynasty in Persia. Mirza Reza'i played a significant role in the administration and diplomacy of the empire during that period.
Another individual of historical significance was Ahmad Reza'i, a Persian poet and writer who lived in the late 19th century. His poetry collections and literary works were widely acclaimed, and he is considered one of the most influential figures in the revival of Persian literature during that era.
Moving into the 20th century, Morteza Rezai was a renowned Iranian painter and calligrapher who made significant contributions to the art world. His intricate calligraphic works and paintings were exhibited in galleries across Iran and internationally, earning him recognition and acclaim.
It is worth noting that the surname "REZAI" has also been found in various historical records and documents from neighboring regions, such as Afghanistan and Central Asia, where Persian culture and language have had a significant influence over the centuries.
While the origin and meaning of surnames can sometimes be subject to debate and interpretation, the surname "REZAI" holds a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Persian-speaking world. It has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rezai
Among Census respondents with the surname Rezai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.3%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.8%) and Two or More Races (14.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Rezai bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rezai surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White60.3% · 367
- Asian and Pacific Islander22.8% · 139
- Two or more races14.6% · 89
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 11
- Black or African American0.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rezai
Rezai appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#52,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 399
+52 bearers (+15.0%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Up 3,339 places
2020
#39,043
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 609
+210 bearers (+52.6%)
Per 100,000 0.20
Rank movement Up 12,994 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #55,376 | 347 | 0.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #52,037 | 399 | 0.14 | +52 bearers (+15.0%) | Up 3,339 places |
| 2020 | #39,043 | 609 | 0.20 | +210 bearers (+52.6%) | Up 12,994 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rezai surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,037 | #39,043 | 25.0% |
| Count | 399 | 609 | 52.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.20 | 45.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rezai bearers went from 399 to 609 (+52.6% change). The surname moved up 12,994 positions in the national ranking, going from #52,037 to #39,043.
FAQ
Rezai surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rezai?
Name Census estimates that about 698 living Americans carry the surname Rezai. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 491,052 residents.
How common is Rezai?
Rezai ranks #39,043 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 609 people with the surname Rezai. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (698), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.2 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.20 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Rezai.
Has Rezai become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rezai went from 399 recorded bearers to 609. That is an increase of 210 (+52.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #52,037 to #39,043.
What does the Census say about the background of Rezai?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rezai, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.3%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.8%) and Two or More Races (14.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rezai in the 2020 Census, accounting for 60.3% (367 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rezai appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (60.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (22.8%), Two or More Races (14.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rezai (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rezai mean?
A surname of Persian/Iranian origin meaning "weaver". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rezai (0.20 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Rezai?
See how many people are called Rezai on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.