Explore the Family Name Mahabir
The meaning of Mahabir
Indian: from a variant of the personal name Mahavir, from Sanskrit mahāvīra ‘great hero’, from mahā ‘great’ + vīra ‘hero’. Mahavir was the name of the founder of Jainism (6th century bc). This surname is found mainly in Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Suriname, and Guyana; it is not used in India. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Dindial, Indra, Kumar, Anand, Ashok, Dhanraj, Guru, Hemwattie, Kamaldai, Krishna, Lalita, Parbatee.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mahabir in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Mahabir has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 23,273rd in popularity but rose to a rank of 21,144 by 2010, showing a change of 9.15%. In terms of count, there were 1,022 individuals with the Mahabir surname in 2000, which increased by 21.53% to 1,242 individuals in 2010. The proportion per 100k also saw an increase from 0.38 to 0.42 representing a change of 10.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,273 | #21,144 | 9.15% |
| Count | 1,022 | 1,242 | 21.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.38 | 0.42 | 10.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mahabir
The ethnicity associated with the surname Mahabir, as per the Decennial U.S. Census, shows some changes over the decade. Between 2000 and 2010, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 29.55% to 33.74%, a change of 14.18%. Those identifying as two or more races decreased significantly from 36.69% to 15.86%, marking a -56.77% change. The white population with the Mahabir surname grew from 5.28% to 8.78%, a 66.29% change, while the Hispanic population also increased from 4.79% to 6.92%, a change of 44.47%. The Black population with this surname showed a significant increase from 20.65% to 33.25%, a positive change of 61.02%. However, the American Indian and Alaskan Native population saw a decrease from 3.03% to 1.45%, a decline of -52.15%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 29.55% | 33.74% | 14.18% |
| Black | 20.65% | 33.25% | 61.02% |
| Two or More Races | 36.69% | 15.86% | -56.77% |
| White | 5.28% | 8.78% | 66.29% |
| Hispanic | 4.79% | 6.92% | 44.47% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 3.03% | 1.45% | -52.15% |