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

Shahani, 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 Shahani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shahani in America

Shahani is the 65066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shahani surname appeared 305 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 Shahani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shahani 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 Shahani

The surname Shahani is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Persian word "Shah," meaning king or monarch, and the suffix "ani," indicating a place of origin or association. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived in or near a region connected to royalty or the court.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shahani can be found in the historical records of the Safavid Dynasty, which ruled over Persia (modern-day Iran) from 1501 to 1736. During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Isfahan, Shiraz, and Qazvin, where many prominent families and individuals bore the surname.

The Shahani name gained further prominence during the Qajar Dynasty (1789-1925), when several notable figures with this surname held influential positions within the Persian court and government. One such individual was Mirza Hossein Khan Shahani (1809-1877), a prominent statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Persia under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.

In the literary realm, the name Shahani is associated with the celebrated Persian poet and mystic, Hafez-e Shirazi (1315-1390), whose full name was Khwaja Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi. Although Hafez is not directly linked to the Shahani surname, his birthplace of Shiraz was a region where the name was prevalent, suggesting a possible connection.

Another noteworthy figure bearing the Shahani surname was Mirza Mohammad Reza Khan Shahani (1810-1873), a renowned military commander and governor during the Qajar era. He played a crucial role in suppressing several rebellions and uprisings, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and loyal servant of the Shah.

In more recent history, the Shahani name has been associated with prominent individuals such as Khosrow Shahani (1919-2007), an influential Iranian architect and urban planner who played a significant role in shaping the modern cityscape of Tehran. His notable works include the design of the Shahyad Tower (now known as the Azadi Tower), a iconic monument and landmark in the Iranian capital.

While the Shahani surname has its roots in Persia, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including South Asia, particularly in regions with historical Persian influences. However, the earliest recorded instances and most significant historical figures associated with this name can be traced back to the Persian lands and their rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shahani

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

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

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

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