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

Memon, 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 Memon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Memon in America

Memon is the 18208th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Memon surname appeared 1,528 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 Memon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Memon 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 Memon

The surname MEMON originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Sindh, which is now a part of modern-day Pakistan. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when Arab traders and missionaries arrived in the region. The name MEMON is derived from the Arabic word "mu'min," which means "believer" or "one who has faith."

During the medieval period, the MEMON community established itself as a prosperous group of merchants and traders, with a strong presence in the coastal cities of Sindh and Gujarat. They played a significant role in the vibrant maritime trade routes that connected the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name MEMON can be found in the historical accounts of the Samma Dynasty, which ruled over parts of Sindh between the 14th and 16th centuries. Several MEMON merchants are mentioned as influential figures in the court chronicles of that era.

In the 16th century, a prominent MEMON named Nur Muhammad Memon served as the governor of Thatta, a major port city in Sindh, under the Mughal Empire. His legacy is celebrated in various historical manuscripts and inscriptions from that period.

Another notable figure was Haji Memon, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the 18th century, who funded the construction of several mosques, caravanserais, and educational institutions in the region. His legacy can be traced through the architectural marvels that still stand today.

In the 19th century, the MEMON community expanded its presence across the Indian subcontinent, with significant populations in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), and Karachi. Several MEMON families played a crucial role in the development of these urban centers, contributing to the economic and cultural fabric of the region.

One of the most prominent MEMON figures of the 20th century was Sir Adamjee Hajee Dawood Memon, a successful businessman and philanthropist from Bombay. He established the Adamjee Group, a diversified conglomerate, and was recognized for his philanthropy, receiving numerous honors, including knighthood from the British Empire.

Another notable MEMON individual was Hashoo Kemal, born in 1954, a Pakistani business magnate and hotelier who founded the Hashoo Group, one of the largest hospitality chains in Pakistan. His contributions to the tourism industry and entrepreneurship have been widely recognized.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Memon

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

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

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

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