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

Schembri, 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 Schembri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schembri in America

Schembri is the 31906th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schembri surname appeared 723 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 Schembri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schembri 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 Schembri

The surname Schembri is of Maltese origin, derived from the Arabic word "shamir," which means "a candle bearer" or "a person who lights the way." It is believed to have emerged during the period of Arab rule in Malta, which lasted from the 9th to the 11th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various medieval documents and records from the Maltese archipelago. The name was often spelled in different ways, such as "Xembri," "Ximbri," or "Shembri," reflecting the influence of Arabic, Italian, and other languages on the Maltese language.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Schembri was Matteo Schembri, a prominent Maltese merchant who lived in the late 15th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Malta and other Mediterranean ports, and his name appears in several historical documents from that period.

In the 16th century, the name Schembri gained prominence with the birth of Vincenzo Schembri (1525-1592), a Maltese scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of the Maltese language. He is credited with publishing the first known book written in Maltese, titled "Il-Ktieb il-Qadim tal-Lingwa Maltija" (The Ancient Book of the Maltese Language).

During the 17th century, the Schembri family produced several notable figures, including Girolamo Schembri (1610-1678), a Maltese nobleman and diplomat who served as the ambassador of the Order of St. John to various European courts. Another prominent individual was Paolo Schembri (1645-1715), a Maltese architect and military engineer who designed several fortifications and architectural works in Malta.

In the 18th century, the name Schembri gained further recognition with the birth of Gian Francesco Schembri (1720-1795), a Maltese painter and sculptor who is considered one of the most influential artists of the Maltese Baroque period. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Malta and Europe.

The 19th century saw the rise of another prominent Schembri, Fortunato Schembri (1836-1904), a Maltese politician and journalist who played a significant role in the political and social reforms of Malta during the British colonial period. He was a vocal advocate for Maltese rights and the preservation of the Maltese language and culture.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the surname Schembri throughout history. The name continues to be widely prevalent in Malta and among Maltese diaspora communities around the world, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schembri

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Schembri, 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!