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

Shamsi, 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 Shamsi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shamsi in America

Shamsi is the 42455th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shamsi surname appeared 511 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 Shamsi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shamsi 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 Shamsi

The surname Shamsi has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the Middle Eastern region of Iran. The name is derived from the Persian word "shams," which translates to "sun" or "sunshine." This connection to the sun suggests that the name might have initially been bestowed upon individuals who had a sunny disposition or a radiant personality.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Shamsi can be found in the epic Persian poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings), written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. The poem contains mentions of individuals bearing the name Shamsi, indicating the name's existence during the medieval period in Persia.

In the 13th century, a prominent Persian mystic and poet named Shams-ud-din Muhammad, also known as Shams-e Tabrizi, gained fame for his spiritual teachings and influence on the celebrated poet Rumi. Tabrizi's name, which includes the element "Shams," further highlights the surname's deep-rooted Persian origins.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Shamsi. One such individual was Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Qays al-Razi (1149-1209), a renowned Persian philosopher, physician, and scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of medicine, physics, and optics.

Another prominent bearer of the surname was Ghiyath al-Din al-Shamsi (1276-1349), a Persian astronomer and mathematician who served as the chief astronomer at the Maragheh observatory. His work on astronomical tables and observations played a crucial role in the advancement of celestial sciences during his time.

In the realm of art and literature, the name Shamsi has also left its mark. One notable figure was Mirza Muhammad Rafi' Sauda (1713-1781), a prominent Urdu poet from Delhi who was often referred to as "Sauda Shamsi" due to his association with the Shamsi family.

The surname Shamsi has endured through the centuries, carrying with it the essence of its Persian roots and the symbolic connection to the sun. Its presence in historical records, literary works, and the lives of influential figures serves as a testament to the name's enduring legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shamsi

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

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

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

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