Explore the Family Name Shami
The meaning of Shami
1. Arabic: ethnic name for a Syrian or a habitational name for someone from Damascus, from al Shām, Arabic name for Syria, used in Syria itself to denote the city of Damascus. It is found among both Muslims and Christians. Compare Chami and Shamy. 2. Jewish (from the Levant): habitational name for someone from Syria or Damascus (see 1 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shami in the United States?
The surname Shami saw an increase in its popularity from the years 2000 to 2010 based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it was ranked as the 41,596th most popular surname but by 2010, it had moved up to the 38,532nd spot, marking a 7.37% change in rank. The count of individuals with this surname also increased from 493 in 2000 to 574 in 2010, signifying a growth rate of 16.43%. Similarly, the proportion of people named Shami per 100,000 residents increased marginally by 5.56% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,596 | #38,532 | 7.37% |
| Count | 493 | 574 | 16.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.19 | 5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shami
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the Shami surname, there were noteworthy changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 15.61%, and the percentage of White individuals rose by 10.18%. On the other hand, there was a significant reduction of 60.62% in the number of individuals who identified with two or more races. Although relatively small in proportion, there was a decrease in the Black population with this surname by 22.66%. The data also showed a slight emergence of the Hispanic ethnicity, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained static at 0%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 66.73% | 73.52% | 10.18% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 15.82% | 18.29% | 15.61% |
| Two or More Races | 14.6% | 5.75% | -60.62% |
| Black | 2.03% | 1.57% | -22.66% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.87% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |