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

Ajami, 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 Ajami surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ajami in America

Ajami is the 71265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ajami surname appeared 274 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 Ajami.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ajami 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 Ajami

The surname AJAMI has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. The name is derived from the Arabic word "ajami," which means "foreigner" or "non-Arab." It is thought that this surname was initially given to those who were not of Arab descent but lived in or interacted with Arab communities.

The earliest known references to the AJAMI surname can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when Arab conquests and migrations led to the spread of Arabic culture and language throughout the Middle East and parts of North Africa. During this time, the term "ajami" was used to refer to non-Arab populations who adopted Arabic as a language or converted to Islam.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname AJAMI was Abu Bakr al-Ajami, a 9th-century Arabian poet and scholar born in Kufa, Iraq. His works, which included poetry and literary criticism, were highly regarded during his lifetime and for centuries after.

In the 11th century, the AJAMI surname appeared in several historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over much of the Middle East and parts of North Africa. One notable figure from this period was Ibn al-Ajami, a renowned physician and philosopher who lived in Baghdad and wrote extensively on medical topics.

During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria (1250-1517), the AJAMI surname was also documented among various families and individuals. One prominent figure was Ahmad al-Ajami, a 14th-century Mamluk military commander and governor who played a significant role in the political affairs of the region.

In the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923), the AJAMI surname was found among various communities, including Turks, Arabs, and Persians. One notable individual from this period was Mustafa al-Ajami, a 16th-century Ottoman poet and calligrapher who was highly regarded for his contributions to literature and the arts.

Other notable individuals with the AJAMI surname throughout history include:

1. Muhammad al-Ajami (1839-1897), a 19th-century Iraqi scholar and poet known for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic literature.
2. Khalil al-Ajami (1923-1996), a Palestinian author and intellectual who wrote extensively on Arab culture and identity.
3. Fouad al-Ajami (1945-2014), a renowned Lebanese-American author, academic, and political commentator who specialized in Middle Eastern studies.
4. Nizar al-Ajami (born 1971), a Syrian poet and writer known for his works exploring themes of identity, exile, and social issues.
5. Huda al-Ajami (born 1981), a Kuwaiti artist and photographer whose works have been exhibited internationally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ajami

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

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

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

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