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

Salim, 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 Salim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Salim in America

Salim is the 12986th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Salim surname appeared 2,364 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 Salim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Salim 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 Salim

The surname SALIM originated in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab regions. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, shortly after the rise of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "salim," which means "safe" or "peaceful."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SALIM surname can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts dating back to the 9th century. These manuscripts often mentioned individuals with the name, indicating its widespread use during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 11th century, the SALIM surname appeared in various records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast territory stretching from North Africa to Central Asia. One notable figure was Salim al-Dawla, a prominent military commander and governor who lived from 1025 to 1087.

During the Crusades, the SALIM name was also documented in Christian records, as the Crusaders encountered individuals with this surname in the Holy Land and neighboring regions. For instance, a nobleman named Salim ibn Khalid was mentioned in a 12th-century chronicle written by the Frankish historian William of Tyre.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the SALIM surname spread across various regions, including Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In the 16th century, a renowned Persian poet named Salim Athar (1516-1600) gained recognition for his literary works.

In the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning from southeastern Europe to the Arabian Peninsula, the SALIM surname was also widely used. One notable figure was Sultan Salim I, who reigned from 1512 to 1520 and oversaw the conquest of Egypt and the Levant.

The SALIM surname has also been recorded in various parts of Africa, particularly in regions with significant Arab influence, such as North Africa and the Horn of Africa. In the 19th century, a prominent Somali scholar and poet named Salim al-Barani (1825-1891) made significant contributions to the literary traditions of the region.

Over time, the SALIM surname has spread globally, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Australia. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Middle Eastern and Islamic cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Salim

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

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

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

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