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

Kemal, 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 Kemal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kemal in America

Kemal is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kemal surname appeared 127 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 Kemal.

The history of the last name Kemal

The surname KEMAL is of Turkish origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century Ottoman Empire. It originates from the Turkish word "kemal," which means "perfection" or "excellence," and was likely bestowed upon individuals who exhibited exceptional qualities or achievements.

In the early days of the Ottoman Empire, surnames were not commonly used, and individuals were often identified by their given names, patronymics, or descriptive nicknames. The adoption of hereditary surnames began to gain traction during the 16th century, and KEMAL emerged as a prominent surname among the Turkish population.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KEMAL can be found in the Ottoman court records of the 16th century, where it was associated with prominent figures in various fields, such as scholars, poets, and military leaders. The name's association with excellence and achievement likely contributed to its popularity among the Ottoman elite.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname KEMAL. One of the most prominent figures was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder of modern Turkey and its first president. Atatürk, whose surname means "Father of the Turks," played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Turkish Republic and the modernization of the country.

Another notable figure was Yahya Kemal Beyatlı (1884-1958), a renowned Turkish poet and writer who was instrumental in the development of the Turkish literary movement known as the National Literature Movement. His works were deeply influenced by the rich cultural heritage of Turkey and played a significant role in shaping the modern Turkish literary landscape.

In the field of science, Fuat Kemal Gürkan (1905-1949) was a pioneering Turkish physicist who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics. He was one of the first Turkish scientists to conduct research in the field of nuclear fission and played a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge in Turkey.

The name KEMAL has also been associated with prominent figures in other fields, such as Nâzım Hikmet Kemal (1902-1963), a renowned Turkish poet and playwright whose works were influential in the development of modern Turkish literature and culture.

While the surname KEMAL has its origins in Turkey, it has also gained recognition globally, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields across different countries and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kemal

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

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

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

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