Explore the Family Name Saladin
The meaning of Saladin
1. Muslim: from the Arabic personal name Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn ‘righteousness of religion’. This was the title adopted by Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb (c.1138–93), known in Europe as Saladin, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt. Compare Salahuddin. 2. French: nickname for a blustering or tyrannical individual, from the name of the medieval Egyptian sultan (see 1 above), who, because of his success in combating the Crusaders, became demonized in French and Italian folklore as a monster second only to Herod. History: Saladin was a Kurdish Muslim, born in Tikrit, who became Sultan of Egypt and Syria (reigned 1174–93). He opposed, for the most part successfully, the Crusades undertaken by Richard I of England and Philip II of France, and was noted by Crusaders for his chivalry as well as his military genius. Some characteristic forenames: French Jacques, Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Saladin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Saladin" saw a notable increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Saladin was ranked 24,271st in terms of surname prevalence, but by 2010 it had improved to 23,084th—an increase of around 4.89%. Furthermore, the actual count of individuals with the Saladin surname had risen from 968 in 2000 to 1,107 by 2010. This suggests an overall growth rate of approximately 14.36%, with the proportion per 100,000 people increasing by about 5.56%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,271 | #23,084 | 4.89% |
| Count | 968 | 1,107 | 14.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.36 | 0.38 | 5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Saladin
In terms of ethnicity, the census data reveals some shifting trends within the Saladin population. Notably, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander — up from 0.72% in 2000 to 3.07% in 2010, marking a whopping 326.39% change. The percentage of Saladins identifying as Hispanic or Black also rose, with increases of 17.45% and 17.49% respectively. Meanwhile, the portion of Saladins identifying as White saw a decline of around 10.36%. A new category emerged in 2010 as well, with 1.17% of Saladins identifying as belonging to two or more races. Interestingly, there was also a small representation (0.63%) of American Indian and Alaskan Native identity among Saladins in 2010, which was not present in the 2000 data.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73.76% | 66.12% | -10.36% |
| Hispanic | 17.77% | 20.87% | 17.45% |
| Black | 6.92% | 8.13% | 17.49% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.72% | 3.07% | 326.39% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.17% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.63% | 0% |