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

Samatar, 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 Samatar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samatar in America

Samatar is the 73005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samatar surname appeared 266 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 Samatar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samatar 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 Samatar

The surname Samatar has its origins in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Somali word "samaatar," which means "traveler" or "merchant."

Historically, the Samatar clan was known for their involvement in trade and commerce across the region, forming part of the coastal trading communities of the Somali maritime empire. Their trading activities extended from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, and they played a crucial role in the exchange of goods between the Arab world and the African interior.

One of the earliest known references to the Samatar name can be found in the chronicles of Ibn Battuta, a famous Moroccan explorer and traveler who visited the Somali coast in the 14th century. He documented his encounters with local merchants and traders, including those from the Samatar clan.

The name Samatar has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sayed Mohamed Samatar, a prominent merchant and diplomat who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his role in facilitating trade relations between the Somali coast and the Ottoman Empire.

Another influential figure was Abdullahi Samatar, a 19th-century Somali scholar and religious leader who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region. His descendants carried on his legacy, with many becoming respected scholars and leaders in their communities.

In the 20th century, Abdi Samatar, a Somali academic and author, gained recognition for his work on African politics and development. He was born in 1943 and wrote extensively on issues related to Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa region.

Abdullahi Ahmed Samatar, born in 1944, was a Somali diplomat and academic who served as the Foreign Minister of Somalia from 1987 to 1988. He later became a professor at the University of Delaware, where he taught courses on African and Middle Eastern studies.

Ahmed Ismail Samatar, born in 1950, is another notable figure with the Samatar surname. He is a Somali writer, academic, and activist who has been a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy in Somalia. He has authored several books and articles exploring the political and social dynamics of the region.

While the Samatar name has its roots in Somalia, it has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and legacy of the name remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural and trading traditions of the Horn of Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samatar

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

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

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

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