Explore the Family Name Matar
The meaning of Matar
Arabic (mainly Egypt and the Levant): from the personal name Maṭar, meaning literally ‘rain’, but whose cultural connotation, going back to the earliest days in the desert, is ‘generosity’. Bearers of this surname are both Muslims and Christians. Compare Mattar 2. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Nabil, Fouad, Ghassan, Mounir, Said, Zeina, Abdallah, Ahmad, Ali, Aly, Bassam, Fadi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Matar in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Matar has shown an upward trend from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 33,782nd most popular surname, but by 2010, it rose to the 30,013th spot, showing an increase of roughly 11%. The count of people with the Matar surname also grew significantly during this period, increasing by nearly 23% from 636 to 782. Moreover, the proportion per 100,000 people increased by 12.5%, from 0.24 to 0.27.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,782 | #30,013 | 11.16% |
| Count | 636 | 782 | 22.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.27 | 12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Matar
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnicity associated with the surname Matar. In both 2000 and 2010, a majority identified as White, with a slight increase of 0.41% over the decade. The percentage identifying as Hispanic saw a noticeable rise of about 25%, moving from 13.99% to 17.52%. Those identifying as Black also experienced significant growth, nearly doubling from 1.26% to 2.43%. However, the representation of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native was suppressed or non-existent. Interestingly, the proportion of those reporting two or more races decreased by almost 46%, falling from 11.32% to 6.14%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72.33% | 72.63% | 0.41% |
| Hispanic | 13.99% | 17.52% | 25.23% |
| Two or More Races | 11.32% | 6.14% | -45.76% |
| Black | 1.26% | 2.43% | 92.86% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.1% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |