Explore the Family Name Ishmael
The meaning of Ishmael
Assyrian/Chaldean, West Indian (mainly Trinidad and Tobago), and African (mainly Nigeria): from the Biblical personal name Ishmael, Hebrew Yishma’el, borne by the first son of the patriarch Abraham and his handmaiden Hagar. The name’s meaning in Hebrew is translated literally as ‘God has hearkened’. Compare Esmail, Ismael, and Ismail.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ishmael in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Ishmael" has seen a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Ishmael was ranked as the 11,385th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had slipped to the 11,456th spot, representing a change of -0.62%. However, the total count of people with this surname increased by 8.35% during this decade, from 2,538 individuals in 2000 to 2,750 in 2010. The proportion per 100k people using the surname also slightly decreased by 1.06% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,385 | #11,456 | -0.62% |
| Count | 2,538 | 2,750 | 8.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.94 | 0.93 | -1.06% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ishmael
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that there were significant shifts among those carrying the Ishmael surname between 2000 and 2010. Asian/Pacific Islanders bearing the surname saw the largest increase of 84.72%, followed by Blacks with an increase of 11.84%, and Hispanics at 32.12%. On the other hand, the percentage of Whites with the surname dropped by 5.77%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Natives also saw a decrease by 5.22%. Those identifying with two or more races also decreased by 30.69% in the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.19% | 65.2% | -5.77% |
| Black | 17.49% | 19.56% | 11.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.86% | 7.13% | 84.72% |
| Two or More Races | 6.19% | 4.29% | -30.69% |
| Hispanic | 1.93% | 2.55% | 32.12% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.34% | 1.27% | -5.22% |