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

Samir, 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 Samir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samir in America

Samir is the 87663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samir surname appeared 212 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 Samir.

The history of the last name Samir

The surname "SAMIR" has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have emerged from the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in areas that are now part of modern-day Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the earliest known references to the name "SAMIR" can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts dating back to the 8th century CE. These documents mention individuals bearing this surname, indicating its presence and usage during the early Islamic era.

The name "SAMIR" is derived from the Arabic word "samara," which means "to converse" or "to tell stories." This suggests that the surname may have initially been associated with individuals who possessed exceptional storytelling abilities or were known for their oratory skills.

In the 10th century, records show a prominent figure named Samir ibn Muhammed al-Qurashi, who was a renowned scholar and poet born in Mecca in 920 CE. His works and contributions to Arabic literature have been widely celebrated throughout the ages.

During the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from 750 to 1258 CE, several individuals with the surname "SAMIR" held influential positions within the court and administrative ranks. One notable example is Samir al-Din al-Hafiz, a high-ranking official who served as the vizier (prime minister) under Caliph al-Muqtadi in the late 12th century.

As the Arabic language and culture spread across North Africa and parts of the Mediterranean region, the surname "SAMIR" traveled along with the expansion of Islamic civilization. Historical records from the 13th century mention a Samir ibn Abdallah, a merchant and traveler who journeyed extensively throughout the region, documenting his experiences in written accounts.

In the 15th century, during the golden age of the Ottoman Empire, a distinguished military commander named Samir Pasha gained recognition for his strategic leadership and valor on the battlefield. He played a crucial role in several significant campaigns and battles that shaped the empire's territorial expansion.

It is worth noting that variations and alternative spellings of the surname "SAMIR" have existed throughout history, such as "Sameer," "Samer," or "Samier." These variations often reflect regional dialects, linguistic influences, or transliteration differences from Arabic to other languages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samir

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

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 Samir 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!