Rustam
A surname derived from the Persian name Rustam, a legendary hero from the Shahnameh.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Rustam. That puts it at #157,234 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rustam surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#157,234
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Rustam in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 157234th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rustam, the largest self-reported group is White at 44.7%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (28.2%) and Black (11.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rustam
The surname RUSTAM is believed to have originated in the Persian region, now modern-day Iran and surrounding areas. It dates back to the ancient Persia era, likely before the 7th century AD. The name is derived from the Persian word "Rustam," which means "deliverer" or "savior."
RUSTAM is thought to be derived from the name of a legendary Persian warrior and hero, Rustam, from the epic poem Shahnameh written by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. This epic poem chronicled the history of Greater Iran and its mythological heroes, with Rustam being one of the most prominent figures.
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname RUSTAM can be found in the Tahirid dynasty of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia from the 9th to the 11th century. During this period, individuals with the surname RUSTAM were mentioned in various historical texts and records.
In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Rustam Faramarz Rumi, born in 1207 in Balkh (now in modern-day Afghanistan), was a renowned Persian poet and mystic. He was a disciple of the famous Sufi poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi and is considered one of the greatest poets of the Persian language.
Another notable bearer of the surname RUSTAM was Rustam Khan, a military commander and governor who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. He played a significant role in the Mughal campaigns against the Maratha Empire in the Deccan region of India.
During the 18th century, Rustam Ali Khan was a prominent Persian nobleman and military leader who served as the governor of Kandahar (now in modern-day Afghanistan) under the Afsharid and Zand dynasties. He was known for his successful defense of Kandahar against multiple invasions.
In more recent history, Rustam Ibragimbekov, born in 1939, is a renowned Azerbaijani screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his collaborations with renowned Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov and for his Oscar-nominated screenplay for the film "Burnt by the Sun" in 1994.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rustam
Among Census respondents with the surname Rustam, the largest self-reported group is White at 44.7%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (28.2%) and Black (11.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Rustam bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Rustam surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White44.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander28.2%
- Black or African American11.7%
- Two or more races9.7%
- Unknown or suppressed5.8%
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rustam
FAQ
Rustam surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rustam?
The surname Rustam holds position #157,234 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rustam surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rustam, the largest self-reported group is White at 44.7%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (28.2%) and Black (11.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.