Explore the Family Name Sheikh
The meaning of Sheikh
Muslim: 1. from Arabic shaikh ‘sheikh’, a title denoting a political or spiritual leader of a community. Shaikh also means ‘chief’ or ‘head’ (Koran 28:23). 2. from a personal name based on Arabic shaikh ‘sheikh’ (see 1 above). Compare Elsheikh and Shaikh. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Mohammad, Mohammed, Shahid, Abdul, Khalid, Tariq, Arshad, Iqbal, Mahmood, Zahid, Ali, Muhammad.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sheikh in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Sheikh" has increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the rank was 8200 with a count of 3724, which rose to 5384 and 6462 respectively in 2010. This signifies a growth rate of 34.34% in rank and 73.52% in count over a decade. The proportion per 100,000 also saw an uptick from 1.38 to 2.19, a change of 58.7%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,200 | #5,384 | 34.34% |
| Count | 3,724 | 6,462 | 73.52% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.38 | 2.19 | 58.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sheikh
The ethnicity associated with the surname "Sheikh" has also shifted according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 8.24%, rising from 66.17% in 2000 to 71.62% in 2010. However, there was a significant decrease of 73.74% among those reporting two or more races. Over this period, the representation of Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, and American Indian and Alaskan Natives also changed - decreasing by 24.41% for Whites, increasing by 60.61% for Hispanics, more than doubling (103.28%) for Blacks, and decreasing slightly by 25% for American Indian and Alaskan Natives.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 66.17% | 71.62% | 8.24% |
| Black | 7.01% | 14.25% | 103.28% |
| White | 10.61% | 8.02% | -24.41% |
| Two or More Races | 14.74% | 3.87% | -73.74% |
| Hispanic | 1.32% | 2.12% | 60.61% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.16% | 0.12% | -25% |
Sheikh ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Sheikh is Northern Indian & Pakistani, which comprises 57.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Bengali & Northeast Indian (6.0%) and British & Irish (4.8%). Additional ancestries include Southern Indian & Sri Lankan, Somali, French & German, Iranian, Caucasian & Mesopotamian, and Levantine.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Northern Indian & Pakistani | 57.6% |
| Bengali & Northeast Indian | 6.0% |
| British & Irish | 4.8% |
| Other | 31.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Sheikh
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Sheikh have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Pakistan, and India.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Punjab, Pakistan | 47.00% |
| Sindh, Pakistan | 28.40% |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | 26.10% |
| Punjab, India | 10.40% |
| Gujarat, India | 10.40% |
What Sheikh haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Sheikh is R-Y7, which is predominantly found among people with Central & South Asian ancestry. Haplogroup R-Y7 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-L266 and L-M27, which are predominantly found among people with Central & South Asian and Central & South Asian ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Nair, Mehta, Siddiqui, Hussain, Kumar, Shaikh, Rao, Sharma, Ahmad, Rahman.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Sheikh surname are: M, H, U7. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Sheikh have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Sheikh" Surname 39.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Sheikh" Surname 41.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Sheikh" Surname 23.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Sheikh" Surname 8.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Sheikh?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Sheikh are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition