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

Omar, 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 Omar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Omar in America

Omar is the 4631st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Omar surname appeared 7,660 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Omar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Omar 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 Omar

The surname Omar has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have first emerged in the Middle East region during the early centuries of the Islamic era.

Omar is derived from the Arabic word 'Amir', which translates to 'prince' or 'commander'. It was initially used as a title or honorific for individuals of high status and authority within Arab societies.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Omar can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and chronicles, dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE. One notable example is the mention of Omar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, who ruled from 634 to 644 CE.

As the Islamic faith and Arabic culture spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, the name Omar became more widely adopted as a surname. It is thought to have first appeared in regions such as present-day Syria, Iraq, and Egypt.

Over time, variations of the name emerged, including Omer, Umar, and Umair, reflecting regional linguistic differences and dialects. Some of these variations can be traced back to place names or geographic locations where the surname was prevalent.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname Omar include:

1. Omar Khayyam (1048-1131 CE), a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet renowned for his literary works, including the Rubaiyat.
2. Omar ibn Said (1770-1864), a West African Muslim scholar and autobiographer who was enslaved and brought to the United States.
3. Omar Mukhtar (1858-1931), a Libyan revolutionary and prominent leader in the resistance against Italian colonization.
4. Omar Sharif (1932-2015), an Egyptian actor best known for his roles in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago".
5. Omar Torrijos (1929-1981), a Panamanian military leader and former President of Panama.

The surname Omar has maintained a strong presence across various regions and cultures influenced by the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, it has since become a global surname, reflecting the spread of Arabic culture and the widespread adoption of Islamic names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Omar

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

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

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

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