2000
#15,078
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,795
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.67
Rare Last name
Abdo
An Arabic surname referring to a servant or worshipper of God.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,488 Americans carry the last name Abdo. That puts it at #10,097 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.02 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 98,267 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Abdo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Abdo with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.5K
1 in 98,267
Census rank
#10,097
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,042 bearers of the surname Abdo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.02 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10097th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Abdo, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.3%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (6.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Abdo
The surname ABDO has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The name is derived from the Arabic word "abd," which means "servant" or "slave," often used as a prefix to indicate servitude or devotion to a higher power or deity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ABDO can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. It is said that the name was particularly prevalent among families who held prominent positions in religious or administrative roles during that time period.
In the 13th century, the name ABDO was mentioned in several Arabic literary works, including poetry and prose, suggesting its widespread use and recognition within the Arab world. Additionally, there are records of individuals bearing the name ABDO in various legal documents and land ownership records from that era.
One notable figure in history with the surname ABDO was Abdul Rahman bin Abdallah Al-Abdo, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 14th century. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his mastery of various poetic forms.
Another individual of historical significance was Ahmed Al-Abdo, a prominent military commander who served under the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was renowned for his strategic prowess on the battlefield.
In the 18th century, the name ABDO appeared in various administrative records and documents from the Ottoman Empire, indicating its continued prevalence among families and individuals in the region.
One notable person with the surname ABDO was Mustafa Al-Abdo, a renowned architect and urban planner who lived in the early 19th century. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several iconic buildings and urban developments in various cities within the Ottoman Empire.
Another significant figure was Fatima Al-Abdo, a pioneering educator and activist who lived in the late 19th century. She was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions for women and advocating for their rights and empowerment in a time when such efforts were rare and faced significant opposition.
Throughout its history, the surname ABDO has been associated with various regions and cities within the Middle East, including Damascus, Beirut, Jerusalem, and Cairo, among others. The name has also been subject to slight variations in spelling and pronunciation due to regional linguistic differences and influences.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Abdo
Among Census respondents with the surname Abdo, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.3%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (6.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Abdo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Abdo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White76.3% · 2,321
- Black or African American11.4% · 348
- Hispanic or Latino6.5% · 198
- Two or more races3.7% · 113
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2% · 38
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 24
Timeline
Historical Census data for Abdo
Abdo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,440
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,266
+471 bearers (+26.2%)
Per 100,000 0.77
Rank movement Up 1,638 places
2020
#10,097
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,042
+776 bearers (+34.2%)
Per 100,000 1.02
Rank movement Up 3,343 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,078 | 1,795 | 0.67 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,440 | 2,266 | 0.77 | +471 bearers (+26.2%) | Up 1,638 places |
| 2020 | #10,097 | 3,042 | 1.02 | +776 bearers (+34.2%) | Up 3,343 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Abdo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,440 | #10,097 | 24.9% |
| Count | 2,266 | 3,042 | 34.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 1.02 | 32.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Abdo bearers went from 2,266 to 3,042 (+34.2% change). The surname moved up 3,343 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,440 to #10,097.
FAQ
Abdo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Abdo?
Name Census estimates that about 3,488 living Americans carry the surname Abdo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 98,267 residents.
How common is Abdo?
Abdo ranks #10,097 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.02 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,042 people with the surname Abdo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,488), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.02 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.02 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Abdo.
Has Abdo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Abdo went from 2,266 recorded bearers to 3,042. That is an increase of 776 (+34.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #13,440 to #10,097.
What does the Census say about the background of Abdo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Abdo, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.3%. The next largest groups are Black (11.4%) and Hispanic (6.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Abdo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 76.3% (2,321 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Abdo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (76.3%), Black (11.4%), Hispanic (6.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Abdo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Abdo mean?
An Arabic surname referring to a servant or worshipper of God. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Abdo (1.02 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Abdo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.