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

Shemesh, 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 Shemesh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shemesh in America

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

The Shemesh 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 Shemesh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shemesh 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 Shemesh

The surname SHEMESH has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the region of modern-day Israel and surrounding areas.

The name SHEMESH is derived from the Hebrew word "shemesh," which means "sun." This connection to the celestial body suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who lived in sunny or arid regions, or perhaps even to those who worshipped the sun as a deity in ancient times.

Historical records indicate that variations of the name SHEMESH can be found in ancient Hebrew texts and manuscripts, including the Hebrew Bible. While specific individuals with this surname may not have been explicitly mentioned, the presence of the word "shemesh" in these texts suggests the name's longstanding cultural significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SHEMESH can be traced back to the 12th century, when a Jewish scholar and philosopher named Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides (1138-1204), referenced the word "shemesh" in his writings. This esteemed thinker, who lived in Spain and Egypt, contributed greatly to the fields of theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence within the Jewish tradition.

In later centuries, notable figures with the surname SHEMESH began to emerge. For example, Joseph Shemesh (1670-1745), a renowned Jewish scholar and kabbalist from Poland, made significant contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism and the interpretation of sacred texts.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Rabbi Mordechai Shemesh (1776-1846), a highly respected Torah scholar and leader of the Jewish community in the Ottoman Empire. His teachings and writings on Jewish law and ethics had a profound impact on his contemporaries and future generations.

In the 19th century, the SHEMESH surname gained further recognition with the birth of Shneur Zalman Shemesh (1831-1902), a prominent Hasidic rabbi and leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Russia. His influence on the spiritual and cultural aspects of Jewish life during that period was substantial.

Moving into the 20th century, one notable figure with the SHEMESH surname was Yitzhak Shemesh (1914-1994), an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament). He played a significant role in shaping the policies and governance of the young state of Israel in its early years.

Throughout history, the surname SHEMESH has maintained a strong connection to its Hebrew roots and has been carried by individuals who have made valuable contributions to various aspects of Jewish culture, scholarship, and leadership.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shemesh

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

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

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

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