Rishmawi last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Rishmawi

A locative surname indicating familial origin from the Palestinian village of Rishmawi.

Rishmawi, 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 Rishmawi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rishmawi in America

Rishmawi is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rishmawi surname appeared 114 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 Rishmawi.

The history of the last name Rishmawi

The surname Rishmawi is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and the Levant region. The name is believed to have originated in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rishmawi surname can be found in historical documents dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "rish," meaning "feather" or "plume," potentially indicating an association with a feather-related trade or profession among the ancestors of the Rishmawi family.

In the 18th century, the Rishmawi name appeared in several administrative records and tax registers maintained by the Ottoman authorities who ruled over the region at the time. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution and prominence of the Rishmawi family during that era.

Notable individuals bearing the Rishmawi surname include Khalil Rishmawi (1907-1949), a prominent Palestinian lawyer and political figure who played a significant role in advocating for Palestinian rights during the British Mandate period. Another notable figure was Fawzi Rishmawi (1929-2005), a renowned Palestinian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated Palestinian culture and identity.

The Rishmawi name has also been associated with several places and localities within the Palestinian territories. For instance, the village of Khirbat Rishmawi, located near Ramallah, is believed to have derived its name from the presence of the Rishmawi family in the area.

Other noteworthy individuals with the Rishmawi surname include Muhammad Rishmawi (1890-1963), a respected Islamic scholar and educator who contributed to the preservation of Islamic teachings and traditions in the region, and Samira Rishmawi (1949-2005), a prominent Palestinian activist and human rights advocate who worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Throughout history, the Rishmawi surname has maintained a strong presence in the Middle East, particularly in the Palestinian territories, where it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, lawyers, and political activists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rishmawi

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

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 Rishmawi was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.47% 102
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.26% 6
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Rishmawi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rishmawi-surname-popularity/.

"Rishmawi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rishmawi-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 May, 2025

Rishmawi last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rishmawi-surname-popularity/.

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