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

Zakir, 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 Zakir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zakir in America

Zakir is the 90113th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zakir surname appeared 205 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 Zakir.

The history of the last name Zakir

The surname Zakir originates from regions in the Middle East, specifically within Arabic-speaking countries. It is most prevalent in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq. The name itself derives from the Arabic word "ذاكر" (dhākir), which means "one who remembers" or "one who is mindful." The root word is "ذَكَرَ" (dhakara), which means "to remember" or "to mention."

The surname Zakir can be traced back to early Islamic times, around the 7th century, as personal traits were often adopted as surnames. Islamic scholars and religious figures frequently adopted this surname to signify their piety and devotion to the memorization of holy texts. In historical manuscripts, the name Zakir is mentioned in various works, such as those of medieval Islamic historians and biographers. One such mention is found in the biographical dictionary compilations of Ibn Khallikan, a 13th-century historian.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 9th and 10th centuries during the Abbasid Caliphate. Notable historical figures include Abu Zakir Muhammad, an early Islamic scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Hadith literature and lived around 850 AD. Another significant figure was Zakir al-Din al-Razi, an influential physician and alchemist from Persia in the 12th century, known for his works in medicine and chemistry.

Throughout history, Zakir has remained a recognizable surname in the Islamic world. Zakir Hussain, an Indian historian from the 17th century, authored several important works on the history of the Indian subcontinent's Islamic rulers. Another prominent individual was Zakir al-Din Muhammad Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, who reigned from 1483 to 1530.

The surname also appears in the records of the Ottoman Empire. Zakir Pasha, an Ottoman military commander in the 18th century, played a crucial role during the Russo-Turkish Wars. His leadership and strategic acumen were well-documented in Ottoman military archives.

The last notable figure is Zakir Husain, who served as the third President of India from 1967 until his death in 1969. Although he is well-known for his political career, it is important to remember that his surname has deep historical roots connecting him to a lineage of scholars, warriors, and leaders who bore the name before him.

The surname Zakir thus carries a rich history, embodying a legacy of remembrance, scholarship, and leadership throughout the centuries. Its origins in the Middle East and subsequent spread through the Islamic world have left an indelible mark on history, evidenced by the notable individuals who proudly carried the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zakir

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

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

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

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