Explore the Family Name Alem
The meaning of Alem
1. Ethiopian: from the personal name Alem, meaning ‘world’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 2. Muslim (mainly Algeria): variant of Alam.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Alem in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Alem significantly increased in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 78,035th in popularity; however, by 2010, it improved to the rank of 59,017th, marking a positive change of 24.37 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also experienced an upward trend during this decade, increasing from 228 in 2000 to 343 in 2010, reflecting a substantial increase of 50.44 percent. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with the Alem surname per 100,000 people rose by 50 percent, from 0.08 in 2000 to 0.12 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #78,035 | #59,017 | 24.37% |
| Count | 228 | 343 | 50.44% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.12 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Alem
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some notable shifts in the distribution among those carrying the Alem surname between 2000 and 2010. Individuals identifying as Black saw a significant increase in their percentage, rising from 46.49 percent in 2000 to 66.18 percent in 2010. However, all other ethnicities recorded a decrease. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander fell from 7.02 percent to 3.21 percent, those identifying with two or more races decreased from 12.28 percent to 3.21 percent, and those identifying as Hispanic dropped from 8.33 percent to 5.54 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as White declined from 25.88 percent to 21.87 percent. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained constant at 0 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 46.49% | 66.18% | 42.35% |
| White | 25.88% | 21.87% | -15.49% |
| Hispanic | 8.33% | 5.54% | -33.49% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 7.02% | 3.21% | -54.27% |
| Two or More Races | 12.28% | 3.21% | -73.86% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |