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

Sayyah, 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 Sayyah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sayyah in America

Sayyah is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sayyah surname appeared 124 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 Sayyah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sayyah 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 Sayyah

The surname SAYYAH originated in the Arab world, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 7th century AD during the rise of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sayyah," meaning "traveler" or "wanderer," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been nomadic tribes or merchants who frequently journeyed across the vast deserts and trade routes of the Middle East.

One of the earliest documented references to the SAYYAH name can be found in the chronicles of the renowned Arab historian Ibn Khaldun, who mentioned a family of SAYYAH traders operating in the vicinity of Damascus, Syria, during the 14th century. These traders were known for their expertise in navigating the treacherous Silk Road, transporting valuable goods between the Middle East and the Far East.

The SAYYAH surname also holds significance in the annals of Islamic scholarship. Abu Bakr al-Sayyah, a renowned Islamic philosopher and theologian born in Basra, Iraq, in the 9th century, made significant contributions to the development of Islamic jurisprudence and the interpretation of the Quran. His works, which explored the intricate relationship between reason and revelation, were widely studied and debated throughout the Islamic world.

During the golden age of the Ottoman Empire, the SAYYAH name was associated with a prominent family of scholars and bureaucrats. One notable figure was Ahmed Pasha al-Sayyah, a high-ranking Ottoman official who served as the governor of several provinces in the 16th century. His descendant, Mustafa al-Sayyah, achieved fame as a celebrated calligrapher and poet, whose works adorned the walls of mosques and palaces throughout the empire.

In more recent times, the SAYYAH name has been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields. Khalil al-Sayyah, a Syrian-born artist born in 1910, was renowned for his vibrant abstract paintings that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East. His works were exhibited in galleries across Europe and the United States, earning him international acclaim.

Another notable bearer of the SAYYAH surname was Fatima al-Sayyah, a pioneering Emirati author and educator born in 1955. Her novels and short stories, which explored the complexities of modern Arab society, played a significant role in promoting literary and cultural exchange between the Middle East and the Western world.

While the SAYYAH name may have originated as a reflection of a nomadic lifestyle, it has evolved over centuries to become a symbol of intellectual and cultural richness, carried by scholars, artists, and influential figures across the Arab world and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sayyah

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

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

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

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