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

Zehra, 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 Zehra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zehra in America

Zehra is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zehra surname appeared 183 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 Zehra.

The history of the last name Zehra

The surname Zehra can trace its origins back to the Middle East, specifically the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic word "zahra," which means "flower" or "blossom." The name has connotations of beauty and radiance, reflecting positive attributes commonly valued in the region's culture. The name may have first appeared as a surname during the medieval period, roughly around the 11th to the 14th centuries, coinciding with the flourishing of the Islamic Golden Age.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zehra appears in Ottoman Empire tax records from the 16th century. These records often included surnames for identification and taxation purposes. During this period, the Ottoman Empire included regions that are now modern-day Turkey, parts of the Middle East, and the Balkan Peninsula, suggesting a widespread presence for the name Zehra in these areas.

A notable figure with the surname Zehra is Ibrahim Zehra, a 17th-century Ottoman poet who is known for his lyrical compositions. Born around 1620 and passing away in 1675, Ibrahim Zehra's works were well-regarded in literary circles of his time. His poetry often drew upon themes from nature, which may have been influenced by the etymological meaning of his surname.

Another historical reference comes from Mahmud Zehra, a prominent merchant in the late 18th century based in Cairo, Egypt. Born in 1745 and passing away in 1802, Mahmud Zehra expanded his trade networks across the Mediterranean, contributing to the economic growth of his region. His business records have been preserved in local archives.

In the 19th century, Fatima Zehra stands out as an early feminist and philanthropist in Istanbul. Born in 1832 and passing away in 1889, Fatima Zehra founded several girls' schools and advocated for women's education. Her contributions left a lasting impact on societal attitudes towards women's rights in the region.

Moving to the early 20th century, Ali Zehra, a scholar and historian born in 1875 and died in 1953, made significant contributions to the understanding of Ottoman history. His extensive writings and research helped to preserve the cultural and historical narratives of his homeland.

Lastly, in the mid-20th century, Hasan Zehra, a noted academic and linguist, born in 1920 and passing away in 1982, made groundbreaking contributions to the study of Semitic languages. His work helped bridge the understanding between different cultural and linguistic traditions in the Middle East.

The surname Zehra thus carries a rich history intertwined with cultural, economic, and academic contributions over the centuries. It serves as a legacy of the regions it hails from and reflects the diverse accomplishments of those who have borne the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zehra

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!