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

Tahir, 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 Tahir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tahir in America

Tahir is the 14920th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tahir surname appeared 1,984 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Tahir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tahir 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 Tahir

The surname TAHIR has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and the rise of Islam in the 7th century. The name is derived from the Arabic word 'tahir,' which translates to 'pure' or 'immaculate.' It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals with a reputation for piety and moral virtue.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TAHIR can be found in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians. In the 9th century, the Tahirid dynasty, a Persian dynasty of Iranian origin, ruled over parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The dynasty was founded by Tahir ibn Husayn, a prominent military commander who served under the Abbasid Caliphate.

During the medieval period, the surname TAHIR gained prominence among Muslim communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. It was often associated with individuals of religious or scholarly backgrounds, as well as those holding positions of authority and influence within Islamic societies.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname TAHIR include:

1. Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Bukhari (810-870), a renowned Islamic scholar and compiler of the revered hadith collection, Sahih al-Bukhari.
2. Tahir al-Baghdadi (980-1037), a celebrated Islamic philosopher and theologian from Baghdad.
3. Tahir ibn Faddl (11th century), a renowned Persian poet and writer during the Seljuk Empire.
4. Tahir ibn al-Husayn (822-892), the founder of the Tahirid dynasty and a distinguished military leader in the service of the Abbasid Caliphate.
5. Tahir Pasha (1592-1659), an Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Murad IV.

In addition to its historical significance, the surname TAHIR has also been associated with various place names and geographic locations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. For example, the city of Tahirabad in modern-day Iran is believed to have been named after a member of the Tahirid dynasty.

While the surname TAHIR has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread to other regions and cultures through migration, trade, and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various parts of the world, carrying with them the rich heritage and significance of their ancestral name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tahir

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

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

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

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