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

Kassir, 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 Kassir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kassir in America

Kassir is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kassir surname appeared 225 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 Kassir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kassir 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 Kassir

The surname Kassir has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Levant. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "qassir," which means "short" or "small." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone of shorter stature.

The earliest known records of the Kassir name date back to the 12th century in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable mention is found in the chronicles of the renowned Arab historian Ibn al-Athir, who documented events during the Crusades and the Ayyubid dynasty.

In the 13th century, the Kassir name appeared in several legal documents and property records from cities like Damascus and Aleppo. These records often included variations in spelling, such as Qassir, Kasseer, and Kassiri, reflecting the fluidity of Arabic calligraphy and regional dialects.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the Kassir name was Ibn Kassir, a 13th-century Islamic scholar and historian from Damascus. His full name was Ismail ibn Umar ibn Kathir al-Qurashi al-Damishqi, and he is renowned for his monumental work, "Al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah" (The Beginning and the End), a comprehensive history of the world from creation to his time.

Another notable figure was Shams al-Din al-Kassir, a 14th-century Sufi mystic and poet from Aleppo. His writings and poetry were widely influential in the Islamic mystical tradition and are still studied by scholars today.

In the 16th century, the Kassir name gained prominence in Ottoman records, particularly in regions like Lebanon and Syria. One prominent individual from this era was Ahmed al-Kassir, a military commander and governor who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

During the 19th century, the Kassir family established itself as a prominent clan in the city of Sidon, Lebanon. One of the most influential members was Moussa Kassir, a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs.

The Kassir surname has also been associated with several place names in the region, such as Kassir al-Qadim and Kassir al-Jadid, both villages in Lebanon. These place names likely originated from families or individuals bearing the Kassir name who settled in those areas.

While the Kassir surname is most prevalent in Lebanon, Syria, and other parts of the Levant, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to emigration and diaspora communities. Individuals with this surname can be found in various countries, carrying on the rich heritage and history of their Middle Eastern roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kassir

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

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

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

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