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

Kedem, 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 Kedem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kedem in America

Kedem is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kedem surname appeared 103 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 Kedem.

The history of the last name Kedem

The surname KEDEM is of Hebrew origin and has its roots in the ancient Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kedem," which means "east" or "ancient times." This name likely originated in the region that is now modern-day Israel and the surrounding areas.

One of the earliest known references to the name KEDEM can be found in the Bible, where it is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. The name is associated with the land of Kedem, which was located east of the Garden of Eden. This biblical reference suggests that the name has been in use for thousands of years.

During the Middle Ages, the name KEDEM appeared in various Jewish communities across Europe and the Mediterranean region. It was particularly common among Sephardic Jews, who had roots in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Some notable individuals with this surname from this period include Rabbi Moshe ben Kedem, a 13th-century scholar from Spain, and Judah Kedem, a 14th-century physician and philosopher from Provence, France.

As Jewish communities migrated and dispersed throughout the world, the name KEDEM spread to different regions. In the 16th century, records show individuals with this surname living in Italy, where the name was sometimes spelled as "Kedim" or "Cedim." One notable figure from this time was Elijah Kedem, a 16th-century Italian rabbi and author.

In the 18th century, the name KEDEM appeared in various parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Ukraine. Abraham Kedem, a Polish-Jewish author and historian, was born in 1740 and is known for his works on Jewish history and culture.

During the 19th century, individuals with the surname KEDEM could be found in various parts of the world, including the United States and other countries that saw an influx of Jewish immigrants. One notable example is Isaac Kedem, an American rabbi and author who was born in Lithuania in 1848 and later immigrated to the United States.

Throughout its long history, the surname KEDEM has maintained its connection to its Hebrew roots and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. While the name may have evolved slightly in spelling or pronunciation in different regions, its essential meaning and association with the ancient land of Kedem have remained intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kedem

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

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 Kedem 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.

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

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

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