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

Shahidi, 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 Shahidi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shahidi in America

Shahidi is the 59901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shahidi surname appeared 337 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 Shahidi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shahidi 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 Shahidi

The surname "SHAHIDI" is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the 9th century in the region of modern-day Iran. It is derived from the Persian word "shahid," which means "witness" or "martyr." The name was historically given to those who were considered to be martyrs or witnesses to their faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SHAHIDI" can be found in the chronicles of the Safavid dynasty, which ruled over Persia from the 16th to the 18th century. During this time, the name was commonly associated with members of the Shiite Muslim community who were respected for their devotion and sacrifices.

In the 13th century, a prominent Persian poet and mystic named Shahidi al-Din Yahya Suhrawardi, born in 1154 and died in 1191, gained recognition for his contributions to the philosophy of Illuminationism. His works and teachings influenced the intellectual and spiritual landscape of the region and his surname, "Shahidi," became synonymous with enlightenment and martyrdom.

Another notable figure with the surname "SHAHIDI" was Ahmad Shahidi, a 16th-century Persian philosopher and scholar who wrote extensively on Islamic theology and jurisprudence. His works were widely studied and referenced by scholars and religious leaders of his time.

In the 18th century, a prominent military leader named Mirza Mohammad Shahidi played a significant role in the Persian campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him the honorific "Shahidi," cementing the surname's association with valor and sacrifice.

During the 19th century, a Persian calligrapher named Mirza Gholam Reza Shahidi gained fame for his mastery of the Nasta'liq script, a calligraphic style widely used in Persian and Arabic manuscripts. His works were highly sought after and are now preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

Throughout history, the surname "SHAHIDI" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, military leaders, and artists, all united by the common thread of their association with martyrdom, witnessing, or devotion to their beliefs and principles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shahidi

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

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

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

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