Explore the Family Name Assad
The meaning of Assad
Arabic: 1. from a personal name, Asʿad ‘happiest, luckiest’, a superlative adjective derived from saʿīd ‘happy, lucky’. Bearers of this surname are both Muslims and Christians. Compare Asaad and Asad. 2. nickname or ornamental name from asad ‘lion’, connoting nobility and bravery. Compare Asad. History: The surname of the Syrian ruling al-Assad family goes back to 1927, when Ali Sulayman (1875–1963), father of the former president Hafez al-Assad (1928–2000), adopted his nickname, meaning ‘lion’, as a last name. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Assad, Mohamed, Mohammed, Sader, Saleh, Sheikh, Abed, Abeer, Abrahim, Adnan, Akram, Amer.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Assad in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Assad has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 20,152 in terms of popularity and rose to 19,334 in 2010. This represents a change of approximately 4.06%. The count of people with this surname also increased from 1,230 in 2000 to 1,400 in 2010, showcasing an increase of 13.82%. The proportion per 100,000 people saw a minor increase from 0.46 to 0.47 over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,152 | #19,334 | 4.06% |
| Count | 1,230 | 1,400 | 13.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.46 | 0.47 | 2.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Assad
Reflecting on the ethnic identity associated with the surname Assad, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as White make up the majority, growing from 79.43% in 2000 to 81.21% in 2010. A significant growth was observed in those identifying as Black, which increased from 3.41% to 6.36%, marking an 86.51% change. The Hispanic community also saw a rise from 5.04% to 6.86%. While there were a small percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races in 2000, these numbers changed to 3.07% and 0% respectively in 2010. There were no individuals identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.43% | 81.21% | 2.24% |
| Hispanic | 5.04% | 6.86% | 36.11% |
| Black | 3.41% | 6.36% | 86.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 3.07% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 10.57% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |