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

Terzian, 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 Terzian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terzian in America

Terzian is the 27950th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terzian surname appeared 858 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 Terzian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Terzian 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 Terzian

The surname Terzian is of Armenian origin and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the historical Armenian region of Cilicia, which is now located in modern-day Turkey. The name is derived from the Armenian word "terz," which means "singer" or "musician."

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in a document from the Armenian Apostolic Church, dated around 1480, which mentions a priest named Hovhannes Terzian. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 16th century, the name appears in several Ottoman Empire records, indicating that Armenians bearing the surname Terzian had spread throughout the empire's territories. Some of these records mention individuals from places like Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and Smyrna (modern-day Izmir).

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Terzian family played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Armenian diaspora. Khachatur Terzian (1745-1825) was a renowned scholar and translator who helped preserve and promote Armenian literature and language.

Another notable figure was Vahan Terzian (1876-1923), an Armenian revolutionary and politician who fought for Armenian independence and was a member of the Armenian National Assembly during the First Republic of Armenia.

In the 20th century, the Terzian name gained international recognition through individuals like Rouben Terzian (1892-1980), an Armenian-American artist and painter known for his portraits and landscapes. His works can be found in various museums and private collections around the world.

Vartkes Terzian (1917-2000) was a prominent Armenian-American architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul and the Armenian Church of San Francisco.

Another notable figure was Vache Terzian (1931-2020), an Armenian-Canadian writer and journalist who authored several books and played a significant role in promoting Armenian literature and culture in Canada.

The Terzian surname has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including art, architecture, literature, and politics, particularly within the Armenian diaspora community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terzian

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

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

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

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