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

Owais, 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 Owais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owais in America

Owais is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owais surname appeared 124 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 Owais.

The history of the last name Owais

The surname OWAIS originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula, during the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "aws," which means "wolf" or "lion." The name was likely given to individuals who displayed bravery, strength, or leadership qualities reminiscent of these predatory animals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname OWAIS can be found in the writings of Arab historians, who documented the exploits of a warrior named Owais ibn Amir during the Islamic conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries. He was known for his valor and military prowess, particularly in the battles against the Byzantine Empire.

The surname OWAIS gained prominence during the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from Baghdad between the 8th and 13th centuries. Several notable figures with this name emerged during this period, including the Sufi mystic Owais al-Qarni (d. 657 AD), revered for his piety and spiritual teachings.

In the 11th century, a prominent Arab historian and scholar named Owais al-Jawhari (1005-1093 AD) authored a renowned Arabic dictionary, "Al-Sihah fi al-Lughah," which became a significant reference work for the Arabic language.

During the Ayyubid Dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries, a military commander named Owais ibn Shirkuh (d. 1169 AD) played a pivotal role in the conquest of Egypt and the establishment of Saladin's rule.

Another notable figure with the surname OWAIS was the Moroccan Sufi saint and scholar, Abu Madyan Shuayb al-Owais (d. 1198 AD), whose teachings and writings influenced the spiritual traditions of North Africa and Andalusia.

While the surname OWAIS has its roots in the Arab world, it has also been adopted by people in other regions, particularly those with cultural or historical ties to the Middle East. Over time, the name has undergone various spellings and adaptations, but its connection to the concepts of strength, courage, and leadership remains intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owais

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

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

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

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