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

Habib, 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 Habib surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Habib in America

Habib is the 6836th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Habib surname appeared 4,932 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 Habib.

We can also compare 2010 data for Habib 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 Habib

The surname Habib has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "habib," which means beloved or darling. The name gained widespread usage among Muslim communities across the Middle East and North Africa.

Historically, the name Habib can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the early years of the Islamic era. It was a common practice for Arab families to adopt names that reflected their religious beliefs or cultural values. The name Habib, with its connotation of affection and endearment, became a popular choice among Muslim communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Habib can be found in the Sahih Bukhari, a renowned collection of hadiths (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). The book mentions a companion of the Prophet named Habib ibn Abi Thabit, who lived in the 7th century AD.

During the medieval period, the name Habib appeared in various historical records and manuscripts across the Islamic world. For example, the 11th-century Persian scholar and poet, Habib Nayshaburi (born c. 1010 AD), was a prominent figure who bore this surname.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the name Habib spread to different regions, including parts of Europe. In the 13th century, a Muslim ruler named Habib ibn Muhammad al-Wazir governed the city of Valencia in present-day Spain.

In later centuries, the name Habib continued to be associated with influential personalities in various fields. One notable example is the 19th-century Egyptian scholar and reformer, Habib Efendi (1825-1894), who played a significant role in modernizing education in Egypt.

Other prominent individuals with the surname Habib include:

1. Habib Bourguiba (1903-2000), the first President of Tunisia and a leading figure in the Tunisian independence movement.
2. Habib Tanvir (1923-2009), an acclaimed Indian playwright, director, and actor known for his contributions to Hindi theatre.
3. Habib Girgis (born 1988), an American legal scholar and philosopher known for his writings on religious liberty and constitutional law.
4. Habib Siddiqui (born 1948), a Bangladeshi-American writer and activist who has written extensively on issues of human rights and social justice.
5. Habib Fanny (1908-1999), a renowned Algerian musician and composer known for his contributions to the Chaabi music genre.

It is worth noting that while the surname Habib has its roots in Arabic, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures and communities around the world, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of people over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Habib

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

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

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

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