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

Amen, 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 Amen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amen in America

Amen is the 15201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amen surname appeared 1,938 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Amen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amen 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 Amen

The surname "Amen" has its roots in ancient Egypt, where it was derived from the Egyptian word "Amen," meaning "the hidden one" or "the unseen one." This name was closely associated with the Egyptian god Amun, one of the most prominent deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon.

The name "Amen" first appeared in written records during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, around 2700-2200 BCE. It was often used as a title or an epithet for various gods, including Amun, Ra, and Ptah. Over time, it became a common surname among the ancient Egyptians.

In the Middle Ages, the name "Amen" spread to Europe through various trade routes and cultural exchanges. It was particularly popular among Jewish communities, as the word "Amen" holds significant meaning in the Hebrew language and is often used to express affirmation or agreement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Amen" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Amen" and "Amon," indicating its widespread use at the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "Amen." One of the earliest recorded was Rabbi Jacob ben Abba Mari Amen (c. 1235-1285), a prominent Jewish scholar and philosopher from Provence, France. Another notable figure was Sir Amen Budge (1857-1934), an English Egyptologist and writer who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian language and culture.

In the 16th century, the name "Amen" was associated with the Amen family, a wealthy merchant family from the Netherlands. One of their most famous members was Pieter Amen (1540-1598), a Dutch merchant and diplomat who played a crucial role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.

During the 17th century, the name "Amen" was also found among English Puritans, who often chose biblical names or words with religious significance. One such individual was William Amen (1626-1701), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the pastor of several congregations in Massachusetts.

In the 19th century, the name "Amen" gained prominence in the United States, particularly among African American communities. One notable figure was Amen-Ra Sekeran (1831-1888), a former slave from South Carolina who became a prominent Baptist minister and advocate for the rights of African Americans.

While the surname "Amen" may have evolved and taken on different meanings over time, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Egyptian civilization, where it held deep religious and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amen

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

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

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

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