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

ElGamal, 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 ElGamal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of ElGamal in America

ElGamal is the 98553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The ElGamal surname appeared 184 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 ElGamal.

We can also compare 2010 data for ElGamal 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 ElGamal

The surname ELGAMAL has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Middle East region, particularly Egypt and the Levant. The name is derived from the Arabic word "gamal," which means "camel," signifying a possible association with the camel trade or nomadic traditions of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ELGAMAL surname can be found in historical documents from the 12th century, during the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt and Syria. The name appears in records related to trade and economic activities, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname may have been involved in the transportation or trading of goods using camels.

In the 14th century, the ELGAMAL name gained prominence in the region, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. One such figure was Abu al-Fath al-Gamal, a renowned scholar and historian who lived in Damascus during the Mamluk period (1250–1517). His works shed light on the political and cultural landscape of the time.

As the centuries progressed, the ELGAMAL surname spread across the Middle East and North Africa, with branches of the family establishing roots in various regions. One notable figure from this era was Taher El-Gamal, a prominent Egyptian architect and urban planner who lived from 1924 to 2019. He played a significant role in shaping the modern architectural landscape of Cairo and other Egyptian cities.

In the 20th century, the ELGAMAL surname gained global recognition due to the contributions of Taher El-Gamal, an Egyptian cryptographer and computer scientist. Born in 1935, he is best known for his work in developing the ElGamal encryption system, which is widely used in various cryptographic applications and is considered a pioneering work in the field of public-key cryptography.

Another notable individual with the ELGAMAL surname was Nadia El Gamal, an Egyptian actress and dancer who was born in 1924 and passed away in 1981. She was renowned for her performances in Egyptian cinema and for her contributions to the art of belly dancing, helping to popularize this traditional dance form globally.

Throughout history, the ELGAMAL surname has been associated with diverse fields, including academia, architecture, cryptography, and the arts. Its roots in the Middle East and the Arabic language have endured, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name ElGamal

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

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

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

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