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

Sabbah, 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 Sabbah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sabbah in America

Sabbah is the 70833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sabbah surname appeared 276 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 Sabbah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sabbah 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 Sabbah

The surname Sabbah has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Middle Eastern region, particularly the areas that are now part of Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sabah," which means "morning" or "dawn." It is believed to have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive name for individuals who were known for their early morning activities or for being early risers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sabbah can be found in historical documents from the 11th century, during the time of the Crusades. The name appears in chronicles and records related to the Nizari Ismaili State, also known as the Assassins, a Shia Muslim sect that was active in parts of modern-day Iran and Syria. The leader of this group, Hasan-i Sabbah (1034-1124), was a prominent figure who established a stronghold at the fortress of Alamut in northern Iran.

In the 12th century, the surname Sabbah is mentioned in various manuscripts and historical records from the Levant region, which includes present-day Syria, Lebanon, and parts of Palestine. Some of these records indicate that individuals with this surname lived in cities like Damascus, Aleppo, and Jerusalem during this period.

One notable figure with the surname Sabbah was Bahram Sabbah (1234-1291), a Persian poet and philosopher who was born in Shiraz, Iran. He was known for his mystical and Sufi poetry, and his works were widely appreciated during his lifetime.

Another historical figure with this surname was Muhammad al-Sabbah (1505-1570), a Syrian scholar and jurist who was born in Damascus. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and served as a judge in several cities across the region.

In the 19th century, the surname Sabbah is found in records from the Ottoman Empire, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Lebanon and Syria. One prominent individual with this surname was Butrus al-Sabbah (1823-1905), a Lebanese writer and intellectual who played a significant role in the Nahda (Renaissance) movement in the Arab world.

It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Sabah, Sabah, or Sabbagh, can be found in different historical records and regions. Additionally, some place names in the Middle East, like Sabah in Yemen, may have influenced the development and usage of the surname.

Throughout history, the surname Sabbah has been associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including scholars, poets, jurists, and intellectuals, reflecting the diverse cultural and historical roots of this name in the Middle Eastern region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sabbah

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

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

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

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