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

Soumah, 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 Soumah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soumah in America

Soumah is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soumah surname appeared 229 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 Soumah.

The history of the last name Soumah

The surname Soumah originated in West Africa, specifically in the region known as Guinea. It dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the Soussou language, which is spoken by the Soussou people, an ethnic group indigenous to the coastal regions of Guinea.

The name Soumah is believed to have its roots in the Soussou word "souma," which means "warrior" or "brave one." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who displayed exceptional bravery or skill in combat, a trait highly valued in the region's history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Soumah can be found in the chronicles of the Malian Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in West Africa from the 13th to the 17th century. These chronicles mention a prominent Soussou warrior named Soumah Koli, who fought alongside the legendary emperor Sundiata Keita during the empire's expansion in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, a Soussou scholar and Islamic jurist named Soumah Ibrahima Sori gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Islamic law and jurisprudence. His works were widely circulated and influenced legal scholarship throughout the region.

During the 18th century, a notable figure named Soumah Almamy led a resistance movement against French colonial rule in Guinea. His efforts to preserve the autonomy and cultural traditions of the Soussou people earned him a place in the history of Guinea's struggle for independence.

In the 19th century, a renowned Soussou griot (oral historian) named Soumah Koly Tenin was celebrated for his mastery of the kora, a traditional West African harp, and his ability to recount the epic tales and histories of the Soussou people through song and storytelling.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname Soumah was Abdoulaye Soumah, a Guinean politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1980s and played a crucial role in promoting regional cooperation and conflict resolution in West Africa.

While the surname Soumah has its roots in Guinea and the Soussou people, it has since spread to other parts of West Africa and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or established themselves in different regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soumah

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

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 Soumah 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.

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

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

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