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

Saleen, 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 Saleen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saleen in America

Saleen is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saleen surname appeared 151 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 Saleen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saleen 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 Saleen

The surname Saleen originates from the Arabic language and is believed to have roots in the Middle East, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. The name likely emerged during the Medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One possible derivation of the name Saleen is from the Arabic word "sali" or "salih," which means "virtuous" or "righteous." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were considered moral or pious within their communities.

Another theory traces the name's origin to the Arabic word "saleh," which means "good" or "upright." This could indicate that the surname was originally given to those who were considered honorable or of good character.

Early records mentioning the name Saleen are scarce, but some historians have found references to individuals bearing this surname in ancient manuscripts and documents from the region. One notable example is a merchant named Saleen al-Dimashqi, who lived in Damascus, Syria, in the late 13th century.

As the Arabic-speaking world expanded and trade routes flourished, the name Saleen likely spread to other areas, including parts of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). This could explain the presence of the surname among some families in these regions.

Over the centuries, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, leading to alternative forms such as Salien, Saliyn, and Salaheen. These variations reflect the linguistic diversity and cultural influences across different regions where the name was adopted.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Saleen include:

1. Saleen al-Baghdadi (c. 1150-1220), a renowned Muslim scholar and philosopher from Baghdad, Iraq.
2. Fatima Saleen (1567-1638), a celebrated poet and literary figure in Andalusia, Spain, during the Golden Age of Islamic culture.
3. Ahmed Saleen (1712-1789), a prominent merchant and trader in the Ottoman Empire, whose business dealings spanned from Aleppo to Istanbul.
4. Khalil Saleen (1820-1892), a respected religious leader and teacher in Lebanon, known for his contributions to Islamic education.
5. Zainab Saleen (1876-1954), a pioneering women's rights advocate and social reformer from Damascus, Syria.

While the surname Saleen may not be as widespread as some other Arabic names, it has a rich history rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Middle East. Its various meanings and associations reflect the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saleen

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

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

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

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