Moallem last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Moallem

A surname meaning teacher or mentor in Arabic or Persian.

Moallem, 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 Moallem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moallem in America

Moallem is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moallem surname appeared 113 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 Moallem.

The history of the last name Moallem

The surname MOALLEM has its origins in the Middle Eastern region, particularly in Iran and the surrounding areas. It is derived from the Arabic word "mu'allim," which translates to "teacher" or "instructor." The name's etymology suggests that it was likely given to individuals who were educators or scholars in their respective communities.

During the medieval period, the MOALLEM name can be traced back to various manuscripts and records from the Persian and Ottoman empires. It was a common surname among learned individuals and those involved in the dissemination of knowledge and Islamic teachings.

One of the earliest recorded references to the MOALLEM name dates back to the 12th century, when a renowned scholar and philosopher named Abu'l-Qasim al-Moallem was renowned for his contributions to the field of logic and metaphysics. He was born in Shiraz, Iran, and his works were widely studied and referenced by subsequent generations of scholars.

In the 14th century, a prominent jurist and theologian named Ibn al-Moallem served as the chief judge (qadi) in Damascus, Syria. His legal opinions and interpretations of Islamic law were highly regarded and influential during his time.

Another notable figure bearing the MOALLEM surname was Ali al-Moallem, a 16th-century Ottoman poet and calligrapher from Istanbul. His poetic works were celebrated for their eloquence and mastery of the Arabic language.

During the 19th century, a prominent educator named Muhammad al-Moallem established one of the first modern schools in Lebanon, contributing significantly to the spread of education in the region.

The MOALLEM name has also been associated with various place names and older spellings throughout history. For instance, the village of Moallemiyeh in Lebanon is believed to have derived its name from the presence of scholars or teachers who resided there.

As the name suggests, the MOALLEM surname has a rich history rooted in education, scholarship, and the pursuit of knowledge. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, individuals bearing this surname have left their mark in various fields across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moallem

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

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 Moallem was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 82.30% 93
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 10.62% 12
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Moallem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/moallem-surname-popularity/.

"Moallem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/moallem-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

Moallem last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/moallem-surname-popularity/.

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