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

Yassin, 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 Yassin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yassin in America

Yassin is the 24802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yassin surname appeared 1,004 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 Yassin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yassin 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 Yassin

The surname Yassin is primarily of Arabic origin, rooted deeply in the Middle East. The name traces back to regions in and around Yemen, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula, with its earliest instances noted during the early Islamic centuries, around the 7th and 8th centuries CE. Derived from the Arabic word "Yasin," this surname is an epithet that appears in the Quran, specifically in Surah Ya-Sin, considered one of the revered chapters.

Yassin can be linked etymologically to the phrase "Ya-Sin," which holds significant religious importance within Islamic culture. The exact meaning of "Ya-Sin" remains a topic of theological debate, with interpretations ranging from "O human" to various symbolic meanings tied to Islamic tradition and esoteric significance. Linguistic scholars posit that it could be related to ancient Semitic languages and scripts.

One of the earliest historical references to Yassin is found in early Islamic texts and genealogical records. Manuscripts from the Abbasid Caliphate, dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries, mention individuals bearing the name Yassin. These records often include scholarly and religious figures, underlining the name's association with learnedness and piety.

A notable person from early history with the surname Yassin is Abd al-Rahman ibn Yassin, an Islamic scholar born around 750 CE, known for his theological contributions and proximity to the Abbasid caliphs. His works in hadith literature were instrumental in shaping early Islamic jurisprudence.

Moving forward in history, the name Yassin continued to be associated with prominent figures. In the 13th century, the name can be found in North African records, particularly in the Maghreb region. Ali ibn Yassin, a Moroccan religious leader born in 1203 CE, played a key role in the establishment of local learning centers and the promotion of Islamic teachings.

In the 19th century, another notable figure was Ismail Yassin, an Egyptian comedian and actor born in 1912 and who passed away in 1972. Renowned for his extensive work in Egyptian cinema during the mid-20th century, Ismail Yassin became a beloved cultural figure whose films remain classics in the Arab world.

Additionally, the name Yassin appears in historical geographical references. The town of Yassine in modern-day Lebanon's Beqaa Valley marks another connection to the surname. Historical documents from the Ottoman Empire mention this settlement, highlighting its strategic and cultural importance in the 17th century.

In the 20th century, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin (1937-2004), a Palestinian imam and politician, emerged as a significant historical figure. He was a co-founder of Hamas and became a symbol of Palestinian resistance. His life and activities had a profound impact on the modern geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

Through these prominent individuals and historical references, the surname Yassin reflects a deep-seated cultural and religious heritage. Its appearance in various forms and regions underscores the enduring legacy and historical significance of the name across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yassin

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

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

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

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