Aryeh last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Aryeh

A surname derived from the Hebrew word for "lion".

Aryeh, 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 Aryeh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aryeh in America

Aryeh is the 79598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aryeh surname appeared 239 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 Aryeh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aryeh 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 79598 116123 -37.32%
Count 239 139 52.91%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.05 46.15%

The history of the last name Aryeh

The surname ARYEH originates from Hebrew, derived from the word "aryeh," meaning "lion." This name has its roots in ancient Israel, where it was commonly used to denote strength, courage, and leadership qualities associated with the majestic lion.

One of the earliest known references to the name ARYEH can be found in the biblical Book of Samuel, where it is mentioned as the name of a prominent figure in the tribe of Judah. This text dates back to around the 7th century BCE, suggesting the name's long-standing presence in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the ARYEH surname appeared in various Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in Germany, France, and Spain. These communities often adopted surnames based on occupations, physical characteristics, or symbolic meanings, which may have contributed to the widespread use of the name ARYEH.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Aryeh ben Moshe ha-Levi, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher, lived in Spain. His works, including commentaries on the Torah and philosophical treatises, had a significant impact on Jewish thought during that era.

Another prominent individual with the surname ARYEH was Aryeh Leib ben Joseph, a 16th-century rabbi and author from Poland. He is best known for his influential work, "Shaarei Dura," which explored various aspects of Jewish law and tradition.

In the 17th century, the ARYEH surname appeared in the Netherlands, where a Jewish community had established itself. One notable figure from this period was Aryeh Leib ben Hayyim, a Dutch rabbi and author who wrote extensively on subjects related to Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah.

During the 18th century, the ARYEH surname was found in various parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in communities in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. Aryeh Leib ben Shmuel, a renowned Talmudic scholar and author from Ukraine, made significant contributions to the study of Jewish law and ethics.

As Jewish communities migrated to different parts of the world, the ARYEH surname spread to various regions, including North America and Israel. Notable individuals with this surname in more recent times include Aryeh Frimer, an Israeli legal scholar and educator, and Aryeh Neier, an American human rights activist and writer.

While the surname ARYEH has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture, it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and locations throughout history, reflecting the widespread dispersion and resilience of Jewish communities across the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aryeh

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

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 Aryeh was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.28% 211
Non-Hispanic Black Only 7.53% 18
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.09% 5

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 Aryeh has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.28% 90.65% -2.65%
Black 7.53% 5.04% 39.62%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.09% 3.60% -53.08%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Aryeh last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 28, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/aryeh-surname-popularity/.

"Aryeh last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/aryeh-surname-popularity/. Accessed 28 April, 2025

Aryeh last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/aryeh-surname-popularity/.

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