Explore the Family Name Sham
The meaning of Sham
1. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 沈, see Shen 1. 2. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 岑, see Cen. 3. Indian (Gujarat), Pakistani, and Bangladeshi: from a Persian word meaning ‘on the left side’ and ‘Syria’ (see Shami). 4. English: variant of Shum. Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Foon, Lai, Ming, Chuen, Gan, Hing, Kwong, Mei Yee, Teng, Ting, Wai Ming, Yuk. Indian Alka, Ghan, Krishna, Radhey.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sham in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Sham" saw a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it was ranked as the 34,459th most common last name in the United States, and by 2010, it had climbed to the 33,810th spot - a popularity change of 1.88%. Similarly, the number of individuals with this surname also rose from 622 to 673 during the same period, indicating an 8.2% increase in count. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.23.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,459 | #33,810 | 1.88% |
| Count | 622 | 673 | 8.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sham
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Sham", the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 9.28%, from 63.50% to 69.39%. Meanwhile, there was a noticeable decrease amongst those identifying as two or more races (-17.46%) and Black (-53.78%). The portion of White individuals with this surname also experienced a small decline of 4.90%. There were no individuals who identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 63.5% | 69.39% | 9.28% |
| White | 22.03% | 20.95% | -4.9% |
| Two or More Races | 7.56% | 6.24% | -17.46% |
| Black | 4.5% | 2.08% | -53.78% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |