Zarin last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zarin

A Persian surname likely derived from the word "zar" meaning gold or relating to a goldsmith.

Zarin, 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 Zarin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarin in America

Zarin is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarin surname appeared 196 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 Zarin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zarin 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 93513 84631 9.97%
Count 196 206 -4.98%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.08 -13.33%

The history of the last name Zarin

The surname Zarin has intriguing roots tracing back to Iran. Derived from Persian origins, the name Zarin means golden or made of gold. It comes from the Persian word zar which literally translates to gold. The surname reflects a historical emphasis on wealth, nobility, and excellence, often linked to families of high social standing or those involved in goldsmithing and trade.

The Zarin surname has variations in spelling depending on phonetic transcription and regional influences. Records from ancient Persia show similar surnames, such as Zarini or Zarrin, used by notable families or individuals involved in metalworking professions. Although comprehensive genealogical documents from this era are scarce, Zarin undoubtedly developed as a distinguished surname during the Sassanian Empire in the 3rd century CE.

A significant early reference to the name Zarin appears in a medieval Persian manuscript dating back to the 10th century, where a dignitary by the name of Nizamuddin Zarin is mentioned. This individual served at the court of the Buyid dynasty, highlighting the surname's historical association with Persian nobility and governance.

In the 15th century, a prominent Persian poet, Abdal-Yahya Zarin, gained renown for his contributions to classical Persian literature and poetry. His works, often exploring themes of beauty and opulence, embody the essence of his golden surname. Abdal-Yahya's legacy continues to be celebrated in Persian cultural studies.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Ahmad Ali Zarin, a notable figure in the Safavid Empire. He played a key role as an advisor to Shah Abbas the Great and was instrumental in the expansion and thriving economy of the empire through strategic trade relations. Ahmad Ali Zarin's influence extended beyond economics as he promoted cultural and architectural advancements during his tenure.

In Persian folklore, a famed alchemist known as Soleiman Zarin purportedly lived during the early 18th century. His mythical quests for the philosopher's stone enriched the cultural fabric of the time, making the surname synonymous with wisdom and mystery. Though his exact existence is debated, Soleiman Zarin remains a legendary figure in Persian narratives.

By the 19th century, Zarin had established itself among many Persian-descended families worldwide. One such family produced the eminent scholar Miriam Zarin, born in 1834, who specialized in Middle Eastern history and linguistics. Her published works offered profound insights into Persian cultural evolution and its longstanding traditions.

Throughout history, the surname Zarin has illustrated a legacy of cultural richness, intellectual pursuit, and social prestige. These individuals and stories collectively fortify the name's revered standing and its etymological significance as a symbol of wealth and grandeur in Persian heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarin

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

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 Zarin was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 83.16% 163
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 12.76% 25
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Zarin has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 83.16% 95.15% -13.45%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 12.76% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 2.43% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zarin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zarin-surname-popularity/.

"Zarin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zarin-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zarin last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zarin-surname-popularity/.

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