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

Jamel, 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 Jamel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jamel in America

Jamel is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jamel surname appeared 145 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 Jamel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jamel 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 Jamel

The surname Jamel has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "jamal," which means "beauty" or "camel." The name likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames were becoming more prevalent in Islamic societies.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Jamel can be found in the writings of the renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE). He mentions an individual named Jamel al-Din, which translates to "the beauty of religion." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, a Persian poet and mystic named Jamal al-Din al-Rumi (1207-1273 CE) gained widespread recognition for his profound and influential works, such as the Masnavi. His name, which includes the word "Jamal," further solidifies the historical presence of the surname Jamel in the region.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over much of the Middle East and parts of Europe from the 13th to the 20th century, the name Jamel was recorded in various administrative documents and records. One notable figure from this period was Jamel Pasha (1832-1909), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) of the Empire.

The surname Jamel also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. In the 19th century, a French poet and writer named Frédéric Jamel (1835-1916) gained recognition for his works, which often explored themes of love and nature.

Another prominent individual with the surname Jamel was the American businessman and philanthropist Irving Jamel (1903-1996). He founded the Jamel Novelty Company, which became a successful manufacturer of toys and novelty items.

Throughout history, the surname Jamel has been associated with individuals from various fields, including literature, politics, business, and academia. While the name has Arabic roots, it has transcended cultural boundaries and can be found in different parts of the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jamel

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

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

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

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