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

Selimaj, 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 Selimaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selimaj in America

Selimaj is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selimaj surname appeared 183 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 Selimaj.

The history of the last name Selimaj

The surname Selimaj is of Albanian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the Balkan region. It is believed to have originated from the personal name "Selim," derived from the Arabic word "salim," meaning "safe" or "unharmed." This name was commonly used by Muslims and likely gained popularity during the Ottoman rule in the region.

The earliest known records of the surname Selimaj can be found in historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries in the areas of modern-day Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. During this time, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Selimai," "Selimaj," and "Selimi," reflecting regional spelling variations.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Selimaj was Mustafa Selimaj, a renowned Albanian military commander who fought against the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in the Albanian resistance movement and is celebrated as a national hero.

In the 19th century, the Selimaj surname was prominently associated with the Selimaj family, a prominent clan from the Dukagjin region of northern Albania. This family held significant influence and played an important role in the cultural and political life of the area.

Another notable individual with the surname Selimaj was Adem Selimaj, a renowned Albanian writer and poet who lived from 1879 to 1944. His works contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Albanian literature and culture during a turbulent period in the region's history.

The Selimaj name has also been recorded in historical documents from neighboring regions, such as Montenegro and Serbia, reflecting the migration patterns of families and individuals throughout the centuries.

In more recent times, the Selimaj surname has been carried by several prominent figures, including Muhammed Selimaj, an Albanian politician who served as the President of the Presidency of Kosovo from 1992 to 1998, and Arben Selimaj, a renowned Albanian actor and film director known for his contributions to the country's cinema industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selimaj

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

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

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

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