2000
#87,348
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 198
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.07
Very Rare Last name
Taghavi
A Persian surname meaning "merchant" or "trader".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 331 Americans carry the last name Taghavi. That puts it at #72,473 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,035,512 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Taghavi surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
331
1 in 1,035,512
Census rank
#72,473
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
289
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 289 bearers of the surname Taghavi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 72473rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Taghavi, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Taghavi
The surname Taghavi is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages in what is now modern-day Iran. It is derived from the Persian word "tagh," which means "arch" or "vault," and "avi," which means "maker" or "builder." Together, the name Taghavi essentially means "archmaker" or "vault builder."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Taghavi can be found in historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries, often referring to skilled architects and masons who were involved in the construction of mosques, palaces, and other grand structures in cities like Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz. One notable example is the renowned architect and calligrapher, Taghavi al-Isfahani, who lived in the late 15th century and was responsible for the design and construction of several famous buildings in Isfahan, including the Shah Mosque.
During the Safavid era (1501-1736), the Taghavi family played a significant role in the development of Persian architecture and engineering. Several members of the family were employed by the royal court as master builders, overseeing the construction of magnificent palaces, gardens, and caravanserais throughout the empire. One such figure was Taghavi Beg, who lived in the late 16th century and was credited with the design and construction of the famous Chehel Sotoun palace in Isfahan.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Taghavi surname continued to be associated with skilled craftsmen and builders, particularly in the cities of Tehran and Qazvin. Historical records from this period mention several Taghavi families who were renowned for their expertise in traditional Persian architecture and their contributions to the construction of mosques, bridges, and other public works.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Taghavi was Ahmad Taghavi, a prominent Iranian architect and urban planner who lived from 1867 to 1944. He was responsible for the design and construction of numerous iconic buildings and public spaces in Tehran, including the Baharestan Square, the Sepahsalar Mosque, and the Shemiran Grand Hotel. His work played a crucial role in shaping the modern cityscape of Tehran and helped to establish a unique blend of traditional Persian and contemporary European architectural styles.
Throughout history, the Taghavi name has been associated with skilled craftsmanship, architectural ingenuity, and a deep appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of Persia. While the name may have evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the skilled builders and architects who helped shape the stunning mosques, palaces, and cities that have become iconic symbols of Persian civilization.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Taghavi
Among Census respondents with the surname Taghavi, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Taghavi bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Taghavi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.9% · 257
- Two or more races7.3% · 21
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino1.4% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Taghavi
Taghavi appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#85,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 220
+22 bearers (+11.1%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Up 2,299 places
2020
#72,473
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 289
+69 bearers (+31.4%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 12,576 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #87,348 | 198 | 0.07 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #85,049 | 220 | 0.07 | +22 bearers (+11.1%) | Up 2,299 places |
| 2020 | #72,473 | 289 | 0.10 | +69 bearers (+31.4%) | Up 12,576 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Taghavi surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #85,049 | #72,473 | 14.8% |
| Count | 220 | 289 | 31.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.10 | 38.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Taghavi bearers went from 220 to 289 (+31.4% change). The surname moved up 12,576 positions in the national ranking, going from #85,049 to #72,473.
FAQ
Taghavi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Taghavi?
Name Census estimates that about 331 living Americans carry the surname Taghavi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,035,512 residents.
How common is Taghavi?
Taghavi ranks #72,473 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 289 people with the surname Taghavi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (331), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Taghavi.
Has Taghavi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Taghavi went from 220 recorded bearers to 289. That is an increase of 69 (+31.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #85,049 to #72,473.
What does the Census say about the background of Taghavi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Taghavi, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Taghavi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.9% (257 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Taghavi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.9%), Two or More Races (7.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Taghavi (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Taghavi mean?
A Persian surname meaning "merchant" or "trader". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Taghavi (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Taghavi?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.