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

Shahar, 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 Shahar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shahar in America

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

The Shahar 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 Shahar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shahar 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 Shahar

The surname SHAHAR is of Hebrew origin, believed to have emerged in the Middle Ages among Jewish communities in the Levant region, particularly in modern-day Israel and neighboring areas. It is derived from the Hebrew word "shahar," which translates to "dawn" or "morning," suggesting a possible connection to individuals born or active during the early hours of the day.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SHAHAR surname can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in a manuscript detailing the names of Jewish families residing in the city of Safed, a renowned center of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. This document highlights the surname's deep roots within the region's Jewish communities.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the SHAHAR name gained further prominence, appearing in various records and documents from the Ottoman Empire's territories, which encompassed much of the Middle East at the time. The surname was particularly prevalent among Jewish communities in cities like Jerusalem, Hebron, and Damascus.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the SHAHAR surname was Rabbi Shlomo Shahar, a renowned scholar and kabbalist who lived in Safed and authored several influential works on Jewish mysticism. His works, such as "Sha'ar HaGilgulim" (Gate of Reincarnations), became widely studied and contributed to the spread of the surname among his students and followers.

Another historical figure with the SHAHAR surname was Yitzhak Shahar, a prominent leader and scholar who lived in the 17th century. He played a significant role in the revival of the Jewish community in the city of Hebron, leading efforts to rebuild and strengthen the community after a period of turmoil and displacement.

In the 19th century, the SHAHAR surname gained further recognition with the birth of Eliezer Shahar (1819-1891), a renowned Hebrew poet and author from Jerusalem. His works, such as "Shirat Yerushalayim" (Song of Jerusalem), celebrated the beauty and cultural richness of the holy city, contributing to the preservation of Jewish literary traditions.

As the centuries progressed, the SHAHAR surname continued to be associated with various scholars, rabbis, and prominent figures within Jewish communities across the Middle East and beyond. The name's origins and meaning have remained deeply rooted in its Hebrew linguistic heritage, serving as a testament to the rich cultural and religious traditions of the Jewish people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shahar

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

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

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

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