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

Amsalem, 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 Amsalem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amsalem in America

Amsalem is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amsalem surname appeared 125 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 Amsalem.

The history of the last name Amsalem

The surname Amsalem has its origins in the Hebrew language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the regions that are now modern-day Israel and the Palestinian territories. The name can be traced back to the late medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amsalem can be found in historical documents from the city of Jerusalem, where it was likely derived from the Hebrew phrase "Am Shalem," meaning "Complete People" or "Whole People." This could suggest that the name was initially associated with a community or group of people who were considered unified or complete in some way.

The Amsalem surname has also been linked to the Arabic word "Aslam," which means "to submit" or "to surrender." This connection may indicate that the name could have been adopted by individuals or families who converted to Islam, as the word "Aslam" is closely associated with the concept of submission to the will of God in Islamic tradition.

During the Middle Ages, the name Amsalem appeared in various records and manuscripts, including those kept by Jewish communities in the Levant region. One notable example is the Amsalem family, which can be traced back to the 14th century in the city of Safed, located in present-day northern Israel. This family was known for its involvement in religious and scholarly pursuits, and several members were respected rabbis and teachers.

Another prominent figure bearing the Amsalem surname was Rabbi Yosef Amsalem, who lived in the 16th century and was a respected scholar and commentator on the Torah. His works, including his commentary on the Book of Exodus, became widely studied and influential within the Jewish community.

In the 19th century, the Amsalem surname gained further recognition with the birth of Joseph Amsalem (1835-1912), a Jewish philosopher and scholar from Morocco. He was known for his contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism and his writings on the Kabbalah.

Additionally, the name Amsalem has been associated with various place names and locations throughout the Middle East, such as the town of Amsalem in Yemen, which may have been named after a prominent family or individual with the same surname.

While the Amsalem surname has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Jewish diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of the name remain deeply rooted in its origins and the rich tapestry of the region's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amsalem

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

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 Amsalem 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.

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

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

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