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

Ziyad, 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 Ziyad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziyad in America

Ziyad is the 89069th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziyad surname appeared 208 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 Ziyad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziyad 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 Ziyad

The surname Ziyad has its roots in the Arab world, with origins that can be traced back to the Arabian Peninsula. Emerging prominently during the early Islamic period in the 7th and 8th centuries, the name Ziyad is derived from the Arabic root "zada," which means "to increase" or "to grow." This suggests that the surname Ziyad may have originally been a given name that denoted growth, prosperity, or abundance before becoming a family name passed down through generations.

Historically, the name Ziyad appears in several notable texts and records of the Islamic Golden Age. One of the earliest and most significant figures bearing this surname was Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan, an influential governor of Basra and Kufa under the Ummayad Caliphate in the 7th century. His governance and contributions are well-documented in various historical records and chronicles of the Ummayad period.

Further references to the surname can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and texts. During the Abbasid Caliphate, historians and scholars such as Ibn Sa'd al-Baghdadi mentioned individuals with the name Ziyad in his biographical dictionary, "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir." These mentions provide insights into the prominence of the Ziyad family in political, military, and scholarly circles of early Islamic society.

One notable individual with this surname was Ziyad ibn Abihi, also known as Ziyad ibn Sumayya, who was a prominent political figure and the father of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, a key commander in early Islamic history. Born in the 7th century, Ziyad ibn Abihi played a crucial role in consolidating the Ummayad Caliphate's power and his legacy is often discussed in Islamic historiography.

By the 10th century, the surname Ziyad had spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, appearing in various regions of the Islamic world, including North Africa and Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). This expansion is evidenced by historical records that mention the migration of families with the surname to these areas, often in the context of trade, governance, or scholarly pursuits.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Ziyad ibn Abdallah, a governor of the North African region during the early years of the Islamic conquests. His leadership contributed to the spread of Islam and the Arab culture throughout the Maghreb region. Historical accounts from this period highlight his administrative skills and efforts to integrate diverse populations under Islamic rule.

In the later centuries, the surname Ziyad continued to maintain its significance, with families bearing the name often being involved in scholarly and cultural endeavors. For example, in the 14th century, the Andalusian scholar Ziyad al-Ma'arri is noted for his contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics, with manuscripts bearing his name preserved in various libraries and archives across the Islamic world.

Throughout history, the surname Ziyad has been carried by individuals who have made substantial contributions to their societies, whether in governance, scholarship, or other fields. It reflects a rich heritage associated with growth, leadership, and intellectual pursuits, marking its bearers as notable figures in the annals of Islamic and world history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziyad

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

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

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

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