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

Isam, 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 Isam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isam in America

Isam is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isam surname appeared 217 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 Isam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isam 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 Isam

The surname ISAM originates from the Middle Eastern region, particularly from countries like Iran and Iraq. It is believed to have its roots in the Arabic language, where it may have derived from the word "isam," meaning "protection" or "shield."

The earliest recorded instances of the ISAM surname can be traced back to the 7th and 8th centuries, during the Islamic Golden Age. It is possible that the name was adopted by individuals or families who played a significant role in protecting communities or held positions related to defense and security.

One of the earliest known references to the ISAM name can be found in the writings of renowned Arab historian and scholar Al-Tabari, who lived from 838 to 923 CE. In his historical chronicles, he mentioned individuals with the surname ISAM who held prominent positions within the Abbasid Caliphate.

During the medieval period, the ISAM surname was also found in regions under Islamic influence, such as parts of the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). Historical records from this era mention individuals with the ISAM surname who played roles in governance, academia, and military affairs.

Notable figures throughout history who bore the ISAM surname include:

1. Abu Bakr al-Isam (d. 940 CE), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad.
2. Ibn al-Isam (1097-1179 CE), a Moroccan scholar and poet known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence.
3. Nizar al-Isam (1215-1275 CE), a Syrian scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on logic and metaphysics.
4. Salma al-Isam (1268-1342 CE), an Iraqi poet and writer celebrated for her sophisticated prose and poetry.
5. Ahmad al-Isam (1450-1516 CE), an Ottoman historian and chronicler who documented the reign of Sultan Bayezid II.

As the ISAM surname spread across different regions and cultures, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In some areas, it was written as Issam, Esam, or Essam, reflecting local linguistic influences and dialects.

While the surname ISAM has its roots in the Middle East, it has since been adopted by families and individuals across various parts of the world, carrying with it a rich historical and cultural legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isam

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

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

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

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