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

Riaz, 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 Riaz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riaz in America

Riaz is the 19364th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riaz surname appeared 1,397 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 Riaz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riaz 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 Riaz

The surname RIAZ has its origins in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.

RIAZ is derived from the Arabic word "riyad," which means "gardens" or "meadows." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in or were connected to areas known for their lush greenery and agricultural lands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RIAZ can be found in the historical records of the Mughal Empire, which ruled over vast territories in the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. During this period, the name was often used as a locational surname, indicating a person's place of origin or residence.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the name RIAZ was Riaz-ud-Din Quli Khan, a prominent military commander and statesman who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His exploits and contributions to the empire were documented in various court chronicles and historical texts.

Another historical figure with the surname RIAZ was Hafiz Muhammad Riaz, a renowned Sufi poet and scholar who lived in the 18th century. His poetic works, which often explored themes of spirituality and divine love, gained widespread acclaim and are still studied and appreciated today.

During the 19th century, the name RIAZ was also associated with the city of Riyazpur, a historical town located in the present-day Pakistani province of Punjab. It is believed that some individuals from this region adopted the surname RIAZ as a means of identifying their place of origin.

One notable bearer of the name from this era was Sir Muhammad Riaz, a prominent landowner and politician who played a significant role in the independence movement of British India. He was born in 1875 and served as a member of the Legislative Council of Punjab.

In more recent times, the surname RIAZ has been carried by several influential figures, such as Imran Riaz Khan, a Pakistani journalist and political commentator known for his outspoken views on current affairs. Additionally, Saba Riaz, a talented Pakistani cricketer, has represented her country in various international tournaments.

While the name RIAZ has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since been adopted by individuals of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and migration across different regions of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riaz

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

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

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

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