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

Kamel, 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 Kamel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kamel in America

Kamel is the 18633rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kamel surname appeared 1,477 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kamel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kamel 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 Kamel

The surname Kamel is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "jamal" which means "camel" in Arabic. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East during the medieval period, particularly in regions where camel trading and transportation played a significant role in the economy and culture.

The name Kamel is thought to have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for individuals who worked with camels, such as camel herders, traders, or those involved in camel-related industries. Over time, these nicknames became hereditary surnames passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kamel can be found in the "Kitab al-Aghani" (Book of Songs), a renowned collection of Arabic poetry and biographical accounts compiled in the 9th century. It mentions several individuals with the surname Kamel, suggesting its use during the Abbasid Caliphate era.

In the 11th century, the famous Arab philosopher and polymath Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) had a student named Abu Bakr al-Kamel, indicating the prevalence of the name in scholarly circles during that time period.

During the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and Syria (1250-1517), the name Kamel gained prominence as several members of the ruling elite bore this surname. One notable figure was Kamel al-Din al-Sanjari (1301-1376), a prominent scholar and writer who served as the Chief Qadi (Judge) of Damascus.

In the 14th century, the name Kamel also appeared in the Moroccan city of Fez, where a family of scholars and religious leaders carried this surname. One of the most renowned members was Abu al-Qasim al-Kamel (1349-1422), a renowned Islamic jurist and scholar.

Another notable figure with the surname Kamel was Mustafa Kamel (1874-1908), an Egyptian nationalist and political leader who played a significant role in the Egyptian struggle for independence from British rule in the early 20th century.

While the name Kamel has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread to other regions and cultures through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Middle Eastern and Islamic traditions, reflecting the importance of camels in the region's history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kamel

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

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

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

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