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

Emam, 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 Emam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emam in America

Emam is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emam surname appeared 209 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 Emam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Emam 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 Emam

The surname EMAM has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in Iran and neighboring regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "Imam," which translates to "leader" or "guide." The name is closely associated with Islamic religious and spiritual leaders, known as Imams.

During the medieval period, the surname EMAM was commonly found among Persian scholars, clerics, and individuals who held positions of religious authority. It was a title bestowed upon those who demonstrated exceptional knowledge and piety within the Islamic faith.

Historical records indicate that the surname EMAM appeared in various Persian manuscripts and chronicles dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. One notable example is the work of the renowned Persian scholar and historian, Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Emam al-Muqaddasi, who lived from 945 to 1000 CE.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname EMAM was Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (1149-1209 CE), a renowned philosopher, theologian, and mathematician from Rayy, Iran. His contributions to Islamic philosophy and the sciences were widely celebrated during his lifetime and beyond.

Another influential individual with the surname EMAM was Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni (1028-1085 CE), a highly respected Islamic scholar and jurist from Nishapur, Iran. He was a prominent figure in the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence and authored several influential works on theology and law.

During the Safavid dynasty in Persia (1501-1736 CE), the surname EMAM gained further prominence as it was closely associated with the ruling elite and religious establishment. One notable figure from this period was Imam Quli Khan Undiladze (1572-1639 CE), a prominent military leader and governor under Shah Abbas I.

In the 19th century, the surname EMAM was also found among Shia Muslim communities in India, where it was sometimes anglicized to "Imami" or "Imamuddeen." A notable figure from this period was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Emam (1817-1898 CE), a prominent Muslim philosopher, educator, and social reformer who played a pivotal role in the Muslim Renaissance in India.

Throughout its history, the surname EMAM has been associated with individuals who held positions of religious and intellectual authority within the Islamic world. It remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and scholarly traditions of the Middle East and surrounding regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emam

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

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

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

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