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

Tanvir, 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 Tanvir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanvir in America

Tanvir is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanvir surname appeared 154 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 Tanvir.

The history of the last name Tanvir

The surname Tanvir is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Bengal, which is now divided between the modern-day nations of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The name can be traced back to the 16th century or even earlier, and it is thought to be derived from the Persian word "tanvir," which means "illumination" or "enlightenment."

In the medieval period, the region of Bengal was a prominent center of Islamic culture and learning, attracting scholars and intellectuals from various parts of the Islamic world. It is possible that the surname Tanvir was initially adopted by families with connections to this scholarly tradition or those who were engaged in the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tanvir can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a comprehensive account of the administration and social life during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, compiled in the late 16th century. The work mentions several individuals bearing the surname Tanvir, suggesting its widespread use during that period.

The name Tanvir has also been associated with several notable historical figures. One such individual was Mir Tanvir Ali Khan, a prominent 18th-century poet and scholar from Bengal who contributed significantly to the development of Urdu literature. Another notable bearer of the surname was Tanvir Fatima, a 19th-century Muslim scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in promoting women's education in Bengal.

Other notable individuals with the surname Tanvir include Tanvir Ahmed, a renowned 20th-century Bangladeshi poet and writer who was awarded the Ekushey Padak, one of Bangladesh's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to literature. Tanvir Mokammel, born in 1962, is a celebrated Bangladeshi filmmaker and screenwriter known for his critically acclaimed films exploring social and political themes.

Additionally, the surname Tanvir has been associated with various place names in the region, such as Tanvir Nagar, a locality in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is believed that these place names were derived from the surname itself or were named after individuals bearing the name Tanvir.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanvir

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

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

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

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