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

Najem, 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 Najem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Najem in America

Najem is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Najem surname appeared 297 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 Najem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Najem 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 Najem

The surname Najem is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region now known as Lebanon. It is thought to have derived from the Arabic word "najm," which means "star" or "celestial body." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a particular star or constellation, or perhaps someone who studied the stars.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Najem can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various manuscripts and historical records from the region. One notable example is a merchant named Ahmed Najem, who was mentioned in a trade document from the city of Tripoli in 1189.

During the Crusades, the Najem family was known to have lived in the city of Sidon, which was then under the control of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1260, a man named Salah ad-Din Najem was recorded as being a respected scholar and physician in the city.

In the 14th century, the Najem family established themselves in the city of Beirut, where they became prominent merchants and traders. One of the most famous members of the family during this time was Yusuf Najem, who was born in 1342 and became a renowned poet and calligrapher.

As the centuries passed, the Najem name spread to other parts of the Middle East and beyond. In the late 16th century, a man named Ibrahim Najem was recorded as being a successful trader in the city of Aleppo, in present-day Syria.

Another notable figure with the surname Najem was Fatima Najem, who was born in 1780 in the city of Tripoli. She was a renowned scholar and poet, and her works were widely circulated throughout the region.

While the origins of the surname Najem can be traced back to the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the rich history and cultural significance of this name remain deeply rooted in its Middle Eastern heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Najem

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

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

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

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