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

Sobhan, 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 Sobhan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sobhan in America

Sobhan is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sobhan surname appeared 117 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 Sobhan.

The history of the last name Sobhan

The surname Sobhan has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the regions of modern-day Iran and parts of Central Asia. The word "sobhan" in Persian means "glorious" or "praised," and it is believed that the surname was initially given to individuals who were deemed to have a praiseworthy character or reputation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sobhan can be found in Persian manuscripts dating back to the 11th century. These manuscripts often referred to scholars, poets, and religious figures with the surname, indicating its association with intellectual and spiritual pursuits.

During the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736), which was a significant period in Persian history, the surname Sobhan gained prominence among the ruling elite and aristocracy. Several notable figures bore this surname, including Mirza Mohammad Sobhan, a prominent poet and calligrapher who lived in the 16th century.

As the Persian influence spread throughout the region, the surname Sobhan also found its way into other cultures and languages. In the Indian subcontinent, for instance, the surname is sometimes spelled as "Subhan" or "Subhani," reflecting the linguistic adaptations that occurred over time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Sobhan in the Indian context dates back to the 16th century, with the mention of Shaikh Sobhan, a renowned scholar and Sufi mystic from the region of modern-day Pakistan.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Sobhan have made significant contributions in various fields. Some notable examples include:

1. Hasan Sobhan (1947-present), a prominent Bangladeshi economist and social scientist known for his works on development economics and poverty alleviation.

2. Saber Sobhan (1936-2014), an Iranian sculptor and artist who gained international recognition for his abstract and figurative works.

3. Abdus Sobhan (1934-2007), a renowned Bangladeshi diplomat and statesman who served as the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement.

4. Syed Ghulam Nabi Sobhan (1921-1993), a Pakistani politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in the 1970s.

5. Mahbubul Sobhan (1922-2008), a Bangladeshi academic and educator who was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in the country, including the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

The surname Sobhan has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For instance, the town of Sobhani in Iran's Hormozgan Province is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself, reflecting the presence of individuals bearing this name in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sobhan

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

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 Sobhan 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.

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

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

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