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

Shahid, 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 Shahid surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shahid in America

Shahid is the 11942nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shahid surname appeared 2,618 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Shahid.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shahid 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 Shahid

The surname "SHAHID" has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the Middle East region during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Arabic word "shahid," which means "witness" or "martyr." It was initially used to refer to those who sacrificed their lives in defense of their faith or beliefs.

This name gained significance during the early years of Islam, as it was bestowed upon individuals who embraced martyrdom in the battles fought during the spread of the religion. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical accounts and manuscripts detailing the lives of prominent figures from that era.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name "SHAHID" was Shahid ibn Jabir, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a participant in several significant battles, including the Battle of Badr in 624 CE. His bravery and unwavering faith were celebrated, and his name became synonymous with the concept of martyrdom.

Another notable figure with this surname was Shahid al-Balkhi, a renowned Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 10th century CE. He was widely regarded for his contributions to literature and philosophy, and his works have been preserved and studied by scholars throughout the centuries.

During the medieval period, the name "SHAHID" also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, such as the chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate and the works of renowned historians like al-Tabari (838-923 CE) and ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 CE).

As Islam spread across different regions, the name "SHAHID" traveled with it, gaining prominence in areas like Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In some regions, the name underwent slight variations in spelling or pronunciation, reflecting local linguistic influences.

Over the centuries, several notable figures have carried the surname "SHAHID," including Shahid Ali Khan (1819-1879), a prominent Indian Muslim scholar and educator, and Shahid Amin (1946-2022), an acclaimed Indian historian and academic known for his works on colonial South Asia.

It is important to note that while the name "SHAHID" has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended religious boundaries and has been adopted by various communities across different regions, each with their own unique histories and interpretations of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shahid

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

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

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

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