2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zard
A surname possibly derived from a Persian word meaning yellow or gold.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Zard. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zard surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Zard in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zard, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zard
The surname Zard appears to have its origins in the region encompassing present-day Iran and possibly parts of Azerbaijan. The name dates back to the medieval period, likely arising around the 11th to 13th centuries. The historical roots of Zard can be linked to the Persian word "zard," which translates to "yellow" in English. One theory suggests that the name could have originally described someone with fair hair or a notable complexion.
Throughout history, the name Zard has been documented in various records and manuscripts. One of the earliest references is found in Persian literary texts from the 12th century, where the name appears in poems and state documents. While Zard is a relatively rare surname, historical records from the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) in Iran also make mention of individuals bearing this name, particularly in administrative and scholarly capacities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zard is attributed to a Persian scholar named Jaleel Zard, born in 1318 and known for his contributions to mathematics and astronomy. Another notable figure is Feroze Zard, a merchant from the 15th century, who played an influential role in the trade routes between Persia and the Ottoman Empire. His business transactions are documented in trade records dating back to 1472.
In the 16th century, a military commander named Afsar Zard was noted for his strategic prowess in battles during the Ottoman-Persian wars. His contributions are well-documented in historical military chronicles, highlighting his birth around 1525 and death in 1591. During the 18th century, a poet named Parvin Zard gained recognition for her melancholic and evocative verses, which remain celebrated in Persian literature. She was born in 1715 and passed away in 1772, leaving behind a legacy of poignant poetry.
By the 19th century, an educator and reformist named Kamran Zard emerged, advocating for modern educational reforms in Iran. Born in 1837, Kamran Zard's efforts significantly influenced the development of modern schooling systems before his death in 1894. His contributions are frequently cited in historical educational reforms of that period.
The surname Zard, though less common in modern times, carries with it a rich historical tapestry that stretches across various centuries and fields of influence, particularly within Persian history. The name’s linkage to distinct personalities over the ages underscores its endurance and the notable impact of those who bore it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zard
Among Census respondents with the surname Zard, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Zard bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zard surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 112
- Two or more races3.3% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zard
Zard appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-3 bearers (-2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,880 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+20 bearers (+20.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 18,926 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | -3 bearers (-2.9%) | Down 13,880 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +20 bearers (+20.0%) | Up 18,926 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zard surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #142,049 | 11.8% |
| Count | 100 | 120 | 20.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 33.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zard bearers went from 100 to 120 (+20.0% change). The surname moved up 18,926 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #142,049.
FAQ
Zard surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zard?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Zard. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Zard?
Zard ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Zard. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zard.
Has Zard become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zard went from 100 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 20 (+20.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Zard?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zard, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zard in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zard appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Two or More Races (3.3%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zard (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zard mean?
A surname possibly derived from a Persian word meaning yellow or gold. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zard (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Zard?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Zard on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.