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

Faisal, 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 Faisal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faisal in America

Faisal is the 29918th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faisal surname appeared 785 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 Faisal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faisal 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 Faisal

The surname Faisal is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula. It is derived from the Arabic word "faysal," which means "judgment" or "decisive." The name has been in use since ancient times, and its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 7th century AD.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Faisal is found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the word "faysal" is used to describe the divine judgment or decision of Allah. This association with divine judgment likely contributed to the name's popularity among Muslims.

The name Faisal gained particular prominence during the rise of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Several notable figures from these dynasties bore the name Faisal, including Faisal ibn Abbas, a prominent Arab general who played a significant role in the early Muslim conquests.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Faisal was Faisal ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (1906-1975), the third King of Saudi Arabia. He played a pivotal role in the formation of the modern Saudi state and was widely respected for his efforts in modernizing the country while preserving its cultural heritage.

Another notable figure was Faisal I (1885-1933), the first King of Iraq and a prominent Arab nationalist leader. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the modern Iraqi state and was known for his efforts to unite the Arab world under a common cause.

In the realm of literature, Faisal Ghazi (1590-1670) was a renowned Sufi poet and scholar from the Mughal Empire. His works, which included poetry and mystical writings, had a significant influence on the literary and spiritual traditions of the region.

Faisal Faheed (1934-2010) was a prominent Pakistani writer and playwright, known for his contributions to Urdu literature and his influential works exploring social and political themes.

The name Faisal has also been associated with various place names throughout the Middle East and the Arab world. For example, the city of Faisalabad in Pakistan was named after King Faisal I of Iraq, while the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, was named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the surname Faisal has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Arab and Muslim world. Its association with divine judgment, leadership, and literary achievements has made it a prominent name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faisal

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

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

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

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