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

Merheb, 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 Merheb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merheb in America

Merheb is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merheb surname appeared 130 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 Merheb.

The history of the last name Merheb

The surname Merheb is of Arabic origin, originating from the Levant region in the Middle East. It is believed to have emerged during the early medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries CE. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "marhab," which means "welcome" or "greeting," suggesting that the name may have been initially used to denote hospitality or a welcoming spirit.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merheb can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab historian and geographer Al-Muqaddasi, who lived in the 10th century CE. He mentioned a town called "Marhab" in his descriptions of the region, which may have been the origin of the surname.

During the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, from the 13th to the early 20th centuries, the Merheb name appeared in various historical documents and records across the Levant region, particularly in modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Several notable individuals bearing the Merheb surname emerged during this time, including Yusuf al-Merheb, a prominent scholar and poet who lived in the 15th century in Damascus.

In the 18th century, a prominent family with the Merheb surname held significant influence in the city of Beirut, Lebanon. They were renowned for their involvement in trade and commerce, as well as their contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of the city. One notable member of this family was Ahmad al-Merheb (1725-1798), a respected merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several mosques and schools in Beirut.

Another noteworthy individual with the Merheb surname was Khalil al-Merheb (1820-1891), a Lebanese scholar and poet who made significant contributions to the Arabic literary renaissance of the 19th century. His works, which explored themes of love, nature, and nationalism, were widely celebrated and influential in the region.

In the 20th century, the Merheb name continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Kamal al-Merheb (1915-1992), a prominent Syrian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Syria from 1963 to 1965.

While the Merheb surname is primarily concentrated in the Levant region, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. Today, individuals with the Merheb surname can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merheb

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

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

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

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