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

Rassam, 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 Rassam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rassam in America

Rassam is the 105079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rassam surname appeared 170 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 Rassam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rassam 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 Rassam

The surname RASSAM has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the region of what is now known as Iraq. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century, when the area was part of the Abbasid Caliphate.

One possible derivation of the name RASSAM is from the Arabic word 'rassam,' which means 'painter' or 'artist.' This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to someone who worked as a painter or artist, perhaps in the service of the caliphate or other noble families.

Another theory traces the name back to a place name or village in the region, although the exact location is unclear. It's possible that the name originated as a descriptive term for someone who hailed from a particular area or settlement.

In terms of historical records, the name RASSAM appears in various documents and manuscripts from the region, particularly those related to trade and commerce during the height of the Abbasid Caliphate. One notable example is Hormuzd Rassam, an Assyrian archaeologist born in 1826 in Mosul, Iraq. He is renowned for his excavations of ancient Assyrian and Babylonian sites, including the discovery of the famous Cyrus Cylinder in 1879.

Another individual with the surname RASSAM was Esther Shemtob Rassam, an influential figure in the Jewish community of Baghdad in the late 19th century. She was known for her philanthropic work and her efforts to promote education among women.

Fadil Rassam, born in 1848 in Baghdad, was a prominent Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Ottoman ambassador to several European countries, including France and Britain.

In the literary world, Naim Rassam was an Iraqi novelist and short story writer who lived from 1923 to 2011. His works explored themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of modern Iraqi society.

Finally, Hussain Rassam was an Iraqi artist and sculptor born in 1927 in Baghdad. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Iraqi art and is known for his abstract sculptures and paintings that often incorporated elements of traditional Iraqi culture and symbolism.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the surname RASSAM throughout history, highlighting its deep roots in the Middle Eastern region and its association with various professions and cultural spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rassam

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

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

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

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