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

Rumi, 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 Rumi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rumi in America

Rumi is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rumi surname appeared 122 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 Rumi.

The history of the last name Rumi

The surname RUMI originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) during the 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Persian word "Rumi," which means "from Rome" or "Roman." This term was commonly used to refer to people from the territories that were once part of the Roman Empire, including parts of modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Greece.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RUMI can be found in the works of the famous Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, who was born in Balkh (now in Afghanistan) in 1207 and died in Konya (now in Turkey) in 1273. Rumi's full name was Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, but he was widely known as Rumi due to his association with the region of Anatolia, which was often referred to as "Rum" or "Rome" at the time.

Another notable figure who bore the surname RUMI was Shams al-Din Muhammad Rumi, a prominent Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 13th century. He was a close friend and spiritual companion of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi and is believed to have played a significant role in Rumi's spiritual development and poetic works.

In the 14th century, the surname RUMI appeared in various manuscripts and historical records from the region, including the works of the Persian historian and writer, Hamdullah Mustaufi Qazwini (1281-1349). Qazwini mentioned several individuals with the surname RUMI in his writings, indicating that the name was well-established by that time.

During the 15th century, the RUMI surname was also found in various Ottoman records and documents, reflecting the widespread influence of Persian culture and literature in the Ottoman Empire. One notable figure from this period was Khwaja Husayn Rumi (1439-1492), a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and artist who was born in Amasya, Turkey.

In the 16th century, the Persian poet and scholar, Sadi Rumi (1493-1581), was another prominent figure who carried the RUMI surname. He was born in Tabriz, Iran, and was known for his works on Persian literature, philosophy, and Sufism.

While the RUMI surname has its roots in Persia and the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the name's rich historical connection to Persian literature, Sufism, and the legacy of prominent figures like Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi remains a significant aspect of its etymology and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rumi

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

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

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

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