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

Surani, 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 Surani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Surani in America

Surani is the 70645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Surani surname appeared 277 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 Surani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Surani 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 Surani

The surname Surani originates from the Indian subcontinent, particularly the region of Gujarat, located in western India. Its roots can be traced back to the 12th century, when a significant number of Sunni Muslim traders from the Middle East settled in Gujarat. The name Surani is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "Sur," which means "merchant" or "trader," reflecting the occupation of these early settlers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Surani can be found in the "Mirat-i-Ahmadi," a historical chronicle written in the 16th century by Ali Muhammad Khan. This work mentions several prominent Surani families who played significant roles in the trade and commerce of Gujarat during that time period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Malik Surani served as a minister in the court of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of northern and central India. His influence and contributions to the administration were documented in various contemporary records.

Another historical reference to the name Surani can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative manual commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions the town of Surani, located in present-day Maharashtra, which may have derived its name from the Surani community residing in the area.

In the 17th century, a prominent Surani merchant named Abdul Ghafur Surani established a successful trading empire, with business interests spanning from India to the Middle East and parts of Europe. His entrepreneurial spirit and wealth were celebrated in various contemporary accounts.

During the 18th century, a renowned Surani scholar and poet, Mirza Qatil Surani, gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the Urdu language. His poetry collections and literary achievements were widely praised and studied in the region.

Throughout history, the Surani surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including Mirza Ismail Baig Surani, a 19th-century Sufi mystic and spiritual leader, and Syed Mahmud Surani, a prominent educator and social reformer in the early 20th century.

Overall, the surname Surani has a rich history rooted in the trade and cultural exchange between the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, reflecting the diverse influences that have shaped the region over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Surani

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!