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

Naeem, 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 Naeem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naeem in America

Naeem is the 22260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naeem surname appeared 1,158 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 Naeem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naeem 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 Naeem

The surname "Naeem" is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the Middle East region. It is derived from the Arabic word "naeem," which means "blessing" or "happiness." The name is thought to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the early Islamic period, around the 7th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "Naeem" can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. It is referenced in several verses, often in the context of describing the blessings and pleasures of Paradise. This suggests that the name may have been used as a surname or given name by Arab families during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the early Islamic caliphates.

In the Middle Ages, the name "Naeem" began to spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula as Arab traders and scholars traveled and settled in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Historical records from this period, such as medieval manuscripts and genealogical records, show the name appearing in regions like Persia (modern-day Iran), Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), and the Levant (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine).

One notable early bearer of the surname "Naeem" was Abu Naeem al-Isfahani, a renowned Persian scholar and hadith compiler who lived from 936 to 1038 AD. His work, "Hilyat al-Awliya' wa Tabaqat al-Asfiya'," is a significant historical text that chronicles the lives of Islamic saints and mystics.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Naeem" was Ibn Naeem al-Muqri, a 10th-century Arab grammarian and scholar from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). He is known for his work in Arabic linguistics and literature, and his writings have been influential in the study of the Arabic language.

In the Ottoman Empire, the surname "Naeem" was also present, particularly among families of Arab or Turkish descent. One notable bearer was Naeem Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and governor who lived in the 16th century. He served as the governor of several provinces within the Ottoman Empire and was known for his administrative skills.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname "Naeem" can be found in various parts of the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. One prominent figure from this period was Naeem Makdisi, a Syrian-American writer and journalist who was born in Beirut in 1885. He played a significant role in promoting Arab culture and literature in the United States through his writings and activism.

Another notable bearer of the surname "Naeem" was Naeem Khan, a Pakistani-American fashion designer who was born in 1958. He is known for his glamorous evening wear and has dressed numerous celebrities for red carpet events and award shows.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naeem

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

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

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

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