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

Zayed, 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 Zayed surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zayed in America

Zayed is the 27110th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zayed surname appeared 893 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 Zayed.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zayed 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 Zayed

The surname Zayed is of Arabic origin, primarily found in the Middle Eastern region. Historically, it is widely linked to the Arabian Peninsula, with significant roots in modern-day United Arab Emirates and the surrounding Gulf countries. The name Zayed comes from the Arabic root "ziyād," which means "to grow, increase, or expand," signifying prosperity and abundance. The earliest written instances of this root can be traced back to classical Arabic texts dating as far back as the 6th century.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Zayed is found in the genealogies of the tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The name appeared in historical manuscripts and tribal records in the early Islamic period, indicating its prevalence among the noble and influential families. An example can be seen in the annals of Arab traders and tribal leaders who interacted with Persian and Byzantine empires.

The eldest recorded instance of the surname appearing in historical records is attributed to Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, born in 1835. He was a prominent leader and the grandfather of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is widely known for founding the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, born in 1918, is perhaps the most famous bearer of the surname, having played a crucial role in the formation and development of the UAE until his death in 2004.

Other notable figures with the surname include Zayed bin Omar, a trader and merchant from the 17th century, whose name appeared in trade agreements and shipping logs between the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. Another significant historical figure is Zayed bin Rashid, a military leader known for his role in defending territories in the Arabian Peninsula during the early 19th century.

In the mid-20th century, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's efforts to unite the emirates under a single federation attracted global attention and historical documentation, cementing the surname Zayed in modern history. The name signifies not only tribal lineage and noble standing but also visionary leadership and statecraft.

Thus, the surname Zayed carries a rich heritage, deeply intertwined with the history and growth of the Arabian Peninsula, especially in relation to the leadership and development of the United Arab Emirates.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zayed

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

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

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

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