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

Amer, 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 Amer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amer in America

Amer is the 18601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amer surname appeared 1,481 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 Amer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amer 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 Amer

The surname Amer has its roots in the Middle East and can be traced back to the Arabic language. The name is derived from the Arabic word "amir," which means "prince" or "commander." It is believed that the surname originated during the medieval period, when individuals with positions of authority or nobility were often given titles or descriptive names related to their roles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Amer can be found in historical documents from the 12th century, referring to individuals from regions that are now part of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. The name was particularly prevalent among influential families and those with connections to the ruling class or military leadership.

During the Crusades, which lasted from the late 11th to the late 13th century, several notable figures with the surname Amer emerged. One such individual was Amer al-Din, a Muslim commander who fought against the Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin in 1187. His bravery and strategic skills were well-documented in contemporary chronicles.

As the name spread across the Middle East, it eventually found its way to other regions through trade, migration, and conquest. In the 14th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Amer living in parts of North Africa, particularly in present-day Morocco and Algeria.

One of the most famous bearers of the name Amer was Amer ibn al-As, a prominent figure in early Islamic history who lived from 592 to 658 CE. He was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and played a significant role in the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century.

As the surname Amer continued to spread, it also found its way to Europe through various means, including immigration and cultural exchange. In the 16th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Amer residing in parts of Spain and Italy, likely due to the historical connections between these regions and the Middle East.

Another notable figure with the surname Amer was Abd al-Rahman Amer, a 20th-century Egyptian military officer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1965 to 1967. He played a prominent role in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Throughout history, the surname Amer has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, military leaders, politicians, and influential families. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, the name has taken on various spellings and forms as it spread across different regions and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amer

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

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

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

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