Find out how popular the last name Kareem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kareem.
A common Arabic surname meaning "generous" or "noble".
Kareem, 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 Kareem surname is from the 2010 census data.
Kareem is the 27756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Kareem surname appeared 866 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 Kareem.
We can also compare 2010 data for Kareem 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 27756 | 44895 | -47.18% |
| Count | 866 | 450 | 63.22% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.17 | 52.17% |
The surname Kareem has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "Kareem" which means noble, generous, or honorable. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other parts of the Arab world.
In the early days of Islamic civilization, the name Kareem was often used as a title or honorific for individuals who were held in high regard for their character, deeds, or social standing. Over time, it became a common surname among Arab families, particularly those with roots in the Arabian Peninsula.
The earliest known historical references to the surname Kareem can be found in various Arabic manuscripts and records dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These documents often mentioned individuals with the name Kareem in various contexts, such as trade, scholarship, or military affairs.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Kareem is that of Ibn Kareem al-Qurashi, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence.
Another notable figure with the surname Kareem is Jalal al-Din Kareem, a 13th-century Sufi mystic and philosopher from Persia (modern-day Iran). His teachings and writings had a profound impact on the development of Sufism and Islamic mysticism.
In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan explorer and traveler, mentioned encountering individuals with the surname Kareem during his travels across the Middle East and North Africa. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions by that time.
During the Ottoman Empire's rule in the Middle East and parts of Europe, the surname Kareem was also found among Ottoman families and officials. One notable figure was Kareem Pasha, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and military leader who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) under Sultan Murad IV.
In more recent history, there have been several prominent individuals with the surname Kareem. One of the most famous is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary American basketball player who was born in 1947. He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA and was known for his dominant play and distinctive skyhook shot.
Other notable individuals with the surname Kareem include Amin Kareem, an Iraqi politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 1965 to 1967, and Ahmed Kareem, an Egyptian writer and journalist who was active in the early 20th century and known for his literary works.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kareem.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kareem was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 30.72% | 266 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 42.61% | 369 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 15.36% | 133 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 8.89% | 77 |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Kareem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 30.72% | 20.67% | 39.11% |
| Black | 42.61% | 50.44% | -16.83% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 15.36% | 14.22% | 7.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 8.89% | 12.67% | -35.06% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | 2.00% | (S)% |
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 Kareem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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