Explore the Family Name Ahmed
The meaning of Ahmed
Muslim: variant of Ahmad. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Syed, Mohammed, Mohamed, Ahmed, Mohammad, Ali, Imtiaz, Iqbal, Nasir, Shakil, Iftikhar, Saeed.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ahmed in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Ahmed has significantly grown in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Ahmed was ranked as the 1,206th most common surname, but by 2010, it had jumped to the 720th spot, reflecting a substantial increase of 40.3%. The count of individuals with this surname also saw an impressive surge during this period, going from 26,607 to 48,319, indicating an 81.6% growth. Consequently, the proportion of Ahmeds per 100,000 people rose by 66.13%, moving from 9.86 in 2000 to 16.38 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,206 | #720 | 40.3% |
| Count | 26,607 | 48,319 | 81.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 9.86 | 16.38 | 66.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ahmed
Regarding its ethnic identity, data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the highest percentage of individuals carrying the Ahmed surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, accounting for over half of the total percentage in both 2000 (56.29%) and 2010 (56.54%). This demographic saw a slight growth of 0.44% across the decade. Those identifying as two or more races experienced a sharp decrease from 15.72% to 3.96%, a change of -74.81%. The White demographic showed modest growth, from 13.68% to 15.69%, a 14.69% increase. The Black demographic experienced the most significant increase, rising from 12.48% in 2000 to 22.02% in 2010, a staggering 76.44% change. Hispanic representation decreased slightly by 8.28%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native group showed a 38.46% increase, albeit from a small base of 0.26% to 0.36%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 56.29% | 56.54% | 0.44% |
| Black | 12.48% | 22.02% | 76.44% |
| White | 13.68% | 15.69% | 14.69% |
| Two or More Races | 15.72% | 3.96% | -74.81% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 1.44% | -8.28% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.26% | 0.36% | 38.46% |
Ahmed ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ahmed is Northern Indian & Pakistani, which comprises 31.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Bengali & Northeast Indian (21.7%) and Somali (6.5%). Additional ancestries include Egyptian, Southern Indian & Sri Lankan, Peninsular Arab, British & Irish, and Sudanese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Northern Indian & Pakistani | 31.2% |
| Bengali & Northeast Indian | 21.7% |
| Somali | 6.5% |
| Other | 40.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Ahmed
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ahmed have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Punjab, Pakistan | 25.50% |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | 13.20% |
| Sylhet Division, Bangladesh | 12.10% |
| Dhaka Division, Bangladesh | 10.40% |
| Banaadir, Somalia | 8.60% |
What Ahmed haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ahmed is R-Y7, which is predominantly found among people with Central & South Asian ancestry. Haplogroup R-Y7 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-Y6 and J-CTS5368, which are predominantly found among people with Central & South Asian and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Ali, Hussain, Ahmad, Mohammed, Khan, Kumar, Hassan, Syed, Rahman, Sharma.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ahmed surname are: L2a1, M, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European and Sub-Saharan African ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ahmed have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ahmed" Surname 37.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ahmed" Surname 35.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ahmed" Surname 22.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ahmed" Surname 11.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ahmed?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ahmed are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition