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

Vir, 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 Vir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vir in America

Vir is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vir surname appeared 107 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 Vir.

The history of the last name Vir

The surname Vir is believed to have its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "vir," which means "brave" or "heroic."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was often used as an honorific title bestowed upon warriors and heroes. The name gained prominence during the medieval period, when many rulers and nobles adopted it as part of their royal titles or surnames.

In the 12th century, the name Vir appears in the Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem that celebrates the life and exploits of the legendary Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan (c. 1166-1192). This work is considered one of the earliest examples of the use of the name in a literary context.

During the Mughal era, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the name Vir was also widely used among the Muslim nobility. One notable example is Vir Khan (1605-1658), a prominent military commander who served under the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the rise of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab region. Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the renowned Sikh ruler, bestowed the title "Vir" upon several of his most valiant and loyal warriors, further cementing the name's association with bravery and military prowess.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname Vir was Vir Savarkar (1883-1966), a prominent Indian revolutionary and philosopher who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was also an influential writer and was known for his seminal work "The Indian War of Independence of 1857."

Other notable figures with the surname Vir include Vir Bhadra Marg (1913-1994), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and Vir Pratap Mehta (1900-1970), a renowned educationist and social reformer who established several educational institutions in India.

While the name Vir has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Today, the surname can be found among various communities across South Asia, as well as in the global Indian diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vir

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

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

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

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