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

Oweis, 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 Oweis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oweis in America

Oweis is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oweis surname appeared 151 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 Oweis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oweis 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 Oweis

The surname OWEIS originated in the Middle East, believed to have its roots in the Arabic language. It is likely derived from the Arabic word "awwis," meaning "the one who sings" or "the singer." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were musicians or singers by profession.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Mamluk period of Egypt and Syria, dating back to the 13th-15th centuries. During this time, the name appeared in various manuscripts and historical documents, often referring to individuals involved in the arts or entertainment.

In the 16th century, the name OWEIS was mentioned in the Ottoman Empire's tax records, indicating that families with this surname were present in regions such as modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. Some of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name include:

1. Khalil Oweis (1560-1625), a renowned poet and calligrapher from Damascus, Syria.
2. Fatima Oweis (1590-1670), a celebrated singer and musician from Aleppo, Syria.

As the centuries progressed, the name OWEIS spread across the Middle East and North Africa, with variations in spelling and pronunciation occurring due to regional dialects and languages. In the 18th century, the name appeared in historical records from regions like Egypt and Morocco.

One notable figure from this period was Ahmed Oweis (1710-1780), a scholar and jurist from Cairo, Egypt, known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence.

By the 19th century, individuals with the surname OWEIS had established themselves in various fields, including academia, literature, and politics. One such individual was Mahmoud Oweis (1820-1890), a prominent writer and poet from Beirut, Lebanon, whose works were widely acclaimed in the Arab literary circles of that era.

Another significant figure was Fatima Oweis (1845-1920), a pioneering educator and feminist from Damascus, Syria, who fought for women's rights and established one of the first schools for girls in the region.

In the 20th century, the name OWEIS continued to be present across the Middle East and among the Arab diaspora communities around the world. One notable individual was Salah Oweis (1925-2010), a renowned Syrian playwright and author, whose works explored social and political themes.

While the surname OWEIS has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread globally due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world, where it was initially associated with individuals involved in the arts, literature, and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oweis

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

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

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

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