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

Zaheer, 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 Zaheer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaheer in America

Zaheer is the 42378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaheer surname appeared 512 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 Zaheer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaheer 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 Zaheer

The surname Zaheer has its origins in the Middle Eastern and South Asian regions. It is particularly common in countries with significant populations of Arabic and Persian speakers. The name Zaheer is derived from the Arabic word "ظاهر" (Zāhir), which translates to "manifest," "clear," "evident," or "bright." This surname likely emerged during the Islamic Golden Age, a period marked by significant intellectual and cultural development in the Muslim world, roughly spanning from the 8th to the 14th century.

The oldest references to the name can often be traced back to early Islamic texts and manuscripts. Zaheer appears in various records primarily as part of a patronymic naming system, where individuals were identified by their familial lineage. Given that Arabic naming traditions were deeply rooted in descriptors of personal qualities and virtues, Zaheer was likely employed to denote someone who was perceived as having clear and evident strengths or virtues.

One historical figure bearing this surname is Abu Abdullah Al-Zaheer, an Islamic scholar who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century. He contributed to various fields of study, including the development of early mathematical concepts. Another significant individual is Zaheer ud-Din Muhammad Babur (1483–1530), the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, though in his case, Zaheer formed part of his given name rather than his surname.

During the medieval period, the name Zaheer can be found in records across the Persian Empire. One notable bearer was Zaheer Al-Din Nishapuri, a Persian poet from the 12th century whose works are still referenced in Persian literature studies today. His contribution to Persian poetry through his clear and vivid imagery was exceptionally celebrated.

In the context of South Asia, Zaheer became more prevalent after the Muslim conquests of the Indian subcontinent. Zaheer Uddin Ahmad, a prominent 18th-century Mughal courtier, was known for his administrative acumen during the latter part of the Mughal Empire. His governance in regions such as Delhi left a marked impact on local administration practices.

Further to this, we see the name recorded in Ottoman Turkey, with Zaheer Pasha serving as an important Ottoman military general during the 16th century. His efforts in various military campaigns against European forces are well-documented in several remaining Ottoman military records of that period.

In summary, the surname Zaheer carries with it a rich tapestry of historical and cultural significance. Each historical mention of the name Zaheer across different regions and time periods reinforces its association with clarity, brightness, and prominence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaheer

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

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

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

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