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

Shahab, 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 Shahab surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shahab in America

Shahab is the 60045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shahab surname appeared 336 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 Shahab.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shahab 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 Shahab

The surname SHAHAB is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "shahab" meaning "meteor" or "shooting star." It originated in the Middle East, particularly in countries with significant Arab influence, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name SHAHAB can be found in ancient Arabic texts and manuscripts from the 8th and 9th centuries. These texts often referred to celestial bodies and astronomical events, using the term "shahab" to describe meteors or shooting stars.

In the 10th century, the name SHAHAB appeared in historical records and chronicles from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast territory spanning from modern-day Iran to North Africa. During this time, the name was likely associated with individuals who studied or had expertise in astronomy or related fields.

One notable person with the surname SHAHAB was Abu al-Qasim al-Shahab, a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad, who lived in the 10th century. He made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry and wrote several treatises on astronomical observations.

Another influential figure was Ibn al-Shahab al-Isfahani, a Persian poet and scholar from Isfahan, Iran, who lived in the 11th century. He was known for his mastery of Arabic literature and his poetry, which often included celestial metaphors and imagery.

In the 12th century, the name SHAHAB appeared in records from the Ayyubid dynasty, which ruled over parts of modern-day Syria, Egypt, and Yemen. During this period, the name may have been associated with individuals involved in military or administrative roles.

One such individual was Shahab al-Din al-Harawi, a prominent Sufi scholar and poet from Herat, Afghanistan, who lived in the 12th century. He is known for his spiritual writings and his influence on the development of Sufism in the region.

In the 13th century, the name SHAHAB was also found in records from the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over Egypt, Syria, and parts of the Levant. During this time, the name may have been associated with individuals involved in trade, commerce, or scholarly pursuits.

A notable figure from this era was Shahab al-Din al-Suhrawardi, a Persian philosopher and mystic from Suhraward, Iran, who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries. He was a prominent figure in the Illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy and had a significant influence on subsequent intellectual traditions.

Overall, the surname SHAHAB has a rich history and has been associated with individuals from various fields, including astronomy, literature, scholarship, and philosophy, across the Middle East and Central Asia throughout the medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shahab

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

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

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

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