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

Wahab, 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 Wahab surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wahab in America

Wahab is the 24237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wahab surname appeared 1,035 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 Wahab.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wahab 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 Wahab

The surname Wahab is an Arabic name that originated in the Middle East during the early days of Islam. It is believed to have roots in the Arabic word "Wahaba," which means "to give" or "to grant." The name may have been given to individuals who were known for their generosity or charitable nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wahab can be found in medieval Islamic manuscripts and historical records from the 7th and 8th centuries. During this time, the name was commonly used among Arab tribes and families in regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and parts of North Africa.

The Wahab name has been associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One notable example is Al-Wahab ibn Munabbih, a renowned Islamic scholar and storyteller who lived in the 7th century CE. He is known for his collection of tales and stories, which were widely circulated in the Islamic world during his time.

Another prominent individual with the surname Wahab was Abd al-Wahab al-Sha'rani, a Sufi scholar and mystic who lived in the 16th century in Egypt. He was a prolific writer and is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Sufism.

In the modern era, Wahab has been the surname of several notable individuals, including Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (1913-1999), an Indian Muslim scholar and theologian, and Muhammad Wahab (1832-1900), a religious reformer and founder of the Wahhabi movement in Saudi Arabia.

The name Wahab has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. For instance, the town of Wahab in Yemen and the Wadi Wahab in Saudi Arabia are named after individuals or families who bore this surname.

Overall, the surname Wahab has a rich history and cultural significance, rooted in the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. Its origins can be traced back to the early days of Islam, and it has been carried by prominent scholars, religious figures, and families across the Middle East and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wahab

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

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

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

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