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

Sham, 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 Sham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sham in America

Sham is the 33810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sham surname appeared 673 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 Sham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sham 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 Sham

The surname Sham has its origins in northern India, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "shrama," which means "labor" or "toil," suggesting that the name may have been associated with manual workers or those involved in physically demanding occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sham can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions individuals bearing the name Sham, indicating its presence in the region during that period.

In the 17th century, the name Sham appears in various historical records from the Punjab region of northern India. It is documented in land ownership records and census documents, suggesting that families with this surname held significant status and influence within their communities.

During the 18th century, the surname Sham spread beyond its original regional boundaries as individuals migrated to other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Notable individuals bearing this name include Sham Singh (1723-1789), a renowned Sikh warrior and commander who played a crucial role in the resistance against the Afghan invasions of the Punjab.

As the British East India Company established its presence in India, the name Sham was recorded in colonial records and administrative documents. One such example is Sham Lal (1820-1887), a prominent Indian educator and social reformer who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of practices like sati (widow burning).

In the 20th century, individuals with the surname Sham continued to make significant contributions across various fields. Sham Nath Sharma (1908-1990) was a distinguished Indian diplomat and served as the Indian Ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union. Another notable figure was Sham Lal (1905-1975), a renowned Indian mathematician and statistician who made significant contributions to the field of statistical analysis.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Sham include Sham Sundar (1931-2007), a celebrated Indian classical vocalist and Padma Bhushan awardee, and Sham Lal Kakkar (1945-present), a renowned Indian actor and director who has worked extensively in both film and television.

While the origins of the surname Sham can be traced back to northern India, its presence has spread across the globe due to migration and diaspora communities. However, detailed historical records and accounts from more recent times are scarce, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive account of the name's evolution and distribution in modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sham

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

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

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

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