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

Rabbi, 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 Rabbi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rabbi in America

Rabbi is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rabbi surname appeared 140 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 Rabbi.

The history of the last name Rabbi

The surname Rabbi originated in the Middle East, likely in the region of ancient Judea, around the 1st century CE. It is derived from the Hebrew word "rav," meaning "teacher" or "master," which was commonly used to refer to Jewish religious scholars and leaders.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Rabbi can be found in ancient Jewish texts and manuscripts, such as the Talmud and other Rabbinic literature. These works often referred to notable rabbis by their given name followed by the title "Rabbi," which eventually became a surname for some families.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Rabbi was Rabbi Akiva, a prominent Jewish scholar who lived in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. He was a leading figure in the development of Rabbinic Judaism and is widely regarded as one of the greatest sages in Jewish history.

Another notable figure with the surname Rabbi was Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi, also known as Judah the Prince, who lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. He was the chief redactor of the Mishnah, the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism's Oral Law.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Rabbi was particularly common among Jewish communities in Europe, where many prominent rabbis and scholars bore this name. One such individual was Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides, a prolific philosopher, astronomer, and one of the most influential Torah scholars of the 12th century.

In the 16th century, Rabbi Joseph Caro, a renowned Spanish-born Rabbi and codifier of Jewish law, authored the Shulchan Aruch, a highly influential code of Jewish law that is still widely studied and followed today.

Another notable figure with the surname Rabbi was Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic movement, a mystical branch of Orthodox Judaism that emerged in the 18th century. His teachings and philosophy had a profound impact on Jewish spirituality and continue to influence Hasidic communities worldwide.

While the surname Rabbi is still in use today, particularly within Jewish communities, it is important to note that many of the earliest and most significant individuals bearing this name were highly respected religious scholars and leaders who played pivotal roles in shaping Jewish thought, culture, and tradition throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rabbi

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

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

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

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