Explore the Family Name Shams
The meaning of Shams
Muslim: from a personal name based on Arabic shams ‘sun’. Al-Shams (Ash-Shams) ‘the Sun’ is the title of the 91st sura of the Koran. It is also found as a personal name in combinations such as Shams ud-Dīn (see Shamsuddin). Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Ahmad, Zia, Ali, Habib, Hamid, Jila, Khalid, Majid, Rashid, Samir, Abdollah, Abdul.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shams in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Shams has seen an increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 32,026th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had risen to the 22,733rd spot. This represents a significant rise in rank by 29.02%. The count of individuals with this surname also increased dramatically from 680 in 2000 to 1,127 in 2010, marking a growth of 65.74%. Its proportion per 100,000 people also increased by 52% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,026 | #22,733 | 29.02% |
| Count | 680 | 1,127 | 65.74% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.38 | 52% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shams
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Shams has also shifted between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw the largest increase, jumping from 22.06% in 2000 to 31.06% in 2010, reflecting a change of 40.80%. However, representation among those identifying as two or more races decreased from 15.29% to 11.62%, a decrease of 24%. Similarly, the percentage of individuals with the Shams surname who identified as White fell by 8.43%, from 58.82% in 2000 to 53.86% in 2010. Hispanic representation also saw a slight decrease from 2.50% in 2000 to 2.04% in 2010, a drop of 18.40%. Meanwhile, the Black population with this surname was reported as zero in 2010, down from 1.32% in 2000. No data was reported for American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58.82% | 53.86% | -8.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 22.06% | 31.06% | 40.8% |
| Two or More Races | 15.29% | 11.62% | -24% |
| Hispanic | 2.5% | 2.04% | -18.4% |
| Black | 1.32% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |