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

Hussein, 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 Hussein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hussein in America

Hussein is the 4903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hussein surname appeared 7,182 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 Hussein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hussein 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 Hussein

The surname Hussein originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. It traces its roots back to the 7th century AD, during the early days of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Husayn," which means "good" or "handsome."

One of the earliest known references to the name Hussein can be found in the historical accounts of the Battle of Karbala, which took place in 680 AD. In this battle, Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred along with his family and companions. This event holds great significance in Shia Islam and has contributed to the widespread adoption of the name Hussein among Muslims, particularly in the Shia community.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Hussein date back to the 8th century AD, when it began appearing in various Arabic manuscripts and records. During this time, the name was often associated with individuals from prominent families or those with a strong religious or scholarly background.

In the centuries that followed, the surname Hussein spread across the Middle East and parts of North Africa, carried by traders, scholars, and travelers. It is believed that the name was introduced to other regions, such as South Asia and parts of Europe, through the expansion of Islamic empires and the migration of people.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Hussein. One of the most prominent was Taha Hussein (1889-1973), an Egyptian writer, novelist, and intellectual who played a significant role in the renaissance of modern Arabic literature. Another notable figure was Saddam Hussein (1937-2006), the former president of Iraq, whose controversial rule and policies had a lasting impact on the country and the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hussein include:

1. Zaki al-Arsuzi (1899-1968), a Syrian political theorist and philosopher.
2. Mahmoud Hussein (born 1946), a Sudanese writer and novelist.
3. Yasir Hussain (born 1980), a Pakistani actor and comedian.
4. Hussein Chalayan (born 1970), a British-Turkish Cypriot fashion designer.
5. Alia Hussain Pandor (born 1954), a South African politician and academic.

The surname Hussein has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Some examples include Hussein Dey, a town in Algeria, and Hussein Qalah, a village in Afghanistan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hussein

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

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

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

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