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

Samani, 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 Samani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samani in America

Samani is the 68122nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samani surname appeared 289 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 Samani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samani 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 Samani

The surname SAMANI has its origins in the Persian language, tracing back to the 9th century when the Samanid Empire ruled over parts of modern-day Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The name is believed to be derived from the Persian word "saman," meaning "prosperity" or "fortune."

During the Samanid reign, the dynasty played a crucial role in promoting Persian culture, arts, and literature, contributing significantly to the Islamic Golden Age. The name SAMANI was likely associated with influential figures or families within the Samanid court or nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SAMANI can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian historian and scholar, Abu al-Qasim al-Samani (917-1008 CE), who chronicled the history of the Samanid dynasty. His work, titled "Kitab al-Ansab" (The Book of Genealogies), is a valuable source for understanding the genealogy and history of influential families during that era.

In the 11th century, the SAMANI name appeared in the Persian manuscript "Shahnameh" (The Book of Kings), an epic poem written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi. The poem narrates the history of ancient Persia and mentions several figures with the SAMANI surname.

Notable individuals who bore the SAMANI surname include:

1. Isma'il al-Samani (849-907 CE), the founder of the Samanid Empire and a prominent ruler known for his military campaigns and patronage of arts and sciences.

2. Nasr II al-Samani (914-943 CE), a Samanid ruler who expanded the empire's territories and encouraged the development of literature and architecture.

3. Abu al-Qasim Ali al-Samani (943-961 CE), a Samanid ruler renowned for his architectural achievements, including the construction of the famous Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarkand.

4. Abu Sa'id al-Samani (997-1005 CE), the last ruler of the Samanid dynasty, whose reign witnessed the decline of the empire due to internal conflicts and invasions by rival powers.

5. Abu Nasr al-Samani (d. 1011 CE), a prominent scholar and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of algebra and authored several influential works.

While the SAMANI surname originated in Persia and was particularly prominent during the Samanid Empire, it has since spread to various regions, including Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia, due to migration and cultural exchange. The name continues to carry a rich historical legacy, reflecting the influential role of the Samanid dynasty in shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of the medieval Islamic world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samani

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

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

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

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