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

Faris, 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 Faris surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faris in America

Faris is the 6321st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faris surname appeared 5,401 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Faris.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faris 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 Faris

The surname Faris is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "faris," which translates to "knight" or "horseman." This etymology suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who were skilled horsemen or cavalrymen.

In the early days of Islam, during the 7th and 8th centuries, the term "faris" held great significance as it referred to the elite cavalry units that played a pivotal role in military campaigns and conquests. These horsemen were highly respected for their bravery, horsemanship, and combat prowess.

The surname Faris can be traced back to numerous historical records, including ancient manuscripts and chronicles. One notable mention is found in the "Kitab al-Aghani," a renowned collection of Arabic poems and songs compiled in the 9th century. This work contains references to individuals bearing the name Faris, indicating its widespread use during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Faris is found in the writings of the celebrated Arab historian and philosopher, Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406). He documented the exploits of a distinguished military commander named Abu Bakr al-Faris, who led the armies of the Marinid dynasty in North Africa during the 14th century.

Another historically significant figure with the surname Faris was Ali ibn Isa al-Faris (d. 1015), a prominent Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. His contributions to the fields of trigonometry and spherical geometry were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be recognized by scholars today.

In the realm of literature, the name Faris is associated with the renowned Arab poet and writer, Ameen Faris al-Shidyaq (1804-1887). Born in Lebanon, he was a pioneer of the Arabic literary renaissance and played a crucial role in reviving and modernizing the Arabic language.

Jumping forward in time, the 20th century saw the rise of Mahmoud Faris (1915-1996), an influential Egyptian diplomat and politician who served as the Secretary-General of the Arab League from 1964 to 1972. His efforts in promoting Arab unity and resolving regional conflicts left a lasting impact on the Middle Eastern political landscape.

Throughout history, the surname Faris has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, writers, military leaders, and statesmen. While the name's origins can be traced back to the ancient Middle East, its presence has been documented across various regions, reflecting the widespread influence of Arab culture and civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faris

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

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

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

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