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

Saliba, 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 Saliba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saliba in America

Saliba is the 13509th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saliba surname appeared 2,245 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Saliba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saliba 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 Saliba

The surname Saliba has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions like Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. It is derived from the Arabic word "saliba," which means "cross" or "crucifix."

This surname is thought to have emerged during the time of the Crusades, when Muslim and Christian encounters were prevalent in the region. One theory suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who converted to Christianity and adopted the symbol of the cross, leading to the surname Saliba.

Historical records indicate that the Saliba surname was present in various parts of the Middle East during the medieval period. Some of the earliest documented instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in regions like Lebanon and Syria.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Saliba surname was Niqula Saliba, a Lebanese scholar and philosopher who lived from 1540 to 1614. He was known for his contributions to the study of logic and metaphysics.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Elias Saliba, a Lebanese-American scholar and author who lived from 1941 to 2008. He was a renowned expert on Middle Eastern studies and wrote extensively on topics related to the Arab world.

In the realm of literature, Rashid Saliba Al-Khuri, a Lebanese writer and poet, gained recognition for his works in the 19th century. He was born in 1836 and passed away in 1891.

The Saliba surname has also been linked to various place names in the Middle East, such as the village of Saliba in Lebanon, which may have influenced the origin and spread of this surname in the region.

Throughout history, individuals with the Saliba surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including academia, literature, and philosophy. While the exact origins of this surname may be shrouded in the mists of time, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Middle East.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saliba

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

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

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

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