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

Bishai, 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 Bishai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bishai in America

Bishai is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bishai surname appeared 163 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 Bishai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bishai 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 Bishai

The surname BISHAI is of Egyptian origin, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "bishai," which means "cheerful" or "joyful." This name was commonly found in the Nile Delta region of northern Egypt, particularly in the areas around Alexandria and Rosetta.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BISHAI surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in a manuscript documenting land ownership in the village of Beheira. This ancient text, now housed in the Egyptian National Library, mentions a farmer named Ahmed BISHAI who owned a sizable plot of land along the Nile River.

In the 14th century, during the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, a prominent merchant named Khalil BISHAI was known for his successful trading ventures in spices and textiles. His name is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time, including the writings of the renowned historian Ibn Khaldun.

The BISHAI surname gained further recognition in the 16th century when a renowned scholar and theologian, Yusuf BISHAI, authored several influential treatises on Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy. His works were widely studied throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and he is often cited as a significant figure in the intellectual history of the region.

During the 19th century, the BISHAI family produced several notable figures, including Amin BISHAI, a respected physician who practiced in Cairo and was recognized for his contributions to the field of medicine. Another prominent individual was Fatima BISHAI, a celebrated poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

In more recent times, the BISHAI surname has continued to be associated with individuals of note, such as Naguib BISHAI, an Egyptian-American scientist and professor at Harvard Medical School, whose research focuses on infectious diseases and global health. Additionally, Sameh BISHAI, an accomplished filmmaker and screenwriter, has garnered international acclaim for his thought-provoking cinematic works.

While the BISHAI surname has its roots in Egypt, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and family ties. However, its origins remain deeply rooted in the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt, where it first emerged as a symbol of joy and optimism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bishai

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!