Surname Muhammad - Meaning and Origin

Muhammad: What does the surname Muhammad mean?

Muhammad is an Arabic name often used as a surname in many parts of the Islamic world. The name comes from the root Arabic word "hamd" which means "praise". Muhammad therefore roughly translates to "the most praised one" or "one who is continuously praised". It was the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam in the 7th century. Due to its religious significance, it is one of the most popular names in the world. It is used often both as a personal and a family name among Muslims to express their faith and devotion. Its prevalence is compared to the widespread use of Christian names in Western societies. The popularity of the name Muhammad signifies deep respect and adoration for the Islamic prophet. It's worth noting that variations of the name exist across different cultures and languages.

Muhammad: Where does the name Muhammad come from?

Muhammad is a very common name, especially amongst the Muslim population, which is present in many regions around the world. Today, the name Muhammad can be found in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. It is especially popular in the countries of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco. Within these countries, it is estimated that up to one third of the population bears this name.

In Europe, the name Muhammad is especially common in the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Turkey. In these countries, the name is frequently found amongst members of the Muslim diaspora, which has grown since the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, Muhammad is one of the most popular names in the United Kingdom for babies born in recent years, having risen steadily in popularity since the late twentieth century.

In the United States, Muhammad is also a common name, particularly among African-American and the Hispanic populations. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2010, the name rose by more than 1000% in popularity amongst African-Americans. Furthermore, approximately 4% of the world’s population bears the name, indicating its strong cultural and religious significance.

Variations of the surname Muhammad

The surname Muhammad is an Anglicized form of the Arabic name أحمد (Ahmed), which is also known as Mahmoud, Mahmut, Maimuna, Mahbuba, Mahmud, Mahamad and Mahamud.

The spelling of this surname may vary from region to region and language to language, so the root of the name remains the same. It is also sometimes seen as Muhammadu, Muhamad, Muhamed and Muhummad. In some parts of the Middle East the name might also be written as Mohamad.

The surname is less common in other countries, but still visible. In Russia and Ukraine, for example, the surname is often spelled Mahamaydanov, Makhamatdanov, or Makhmedov. In Turkey and the Turkic countries, the name may be found as Muhammedoglu (in Azerbaijan), Muhammodov (in Uzbekistan), Muhamadov (in Kazakhstan), and Mehemmed (in Turkmenistan).

In other parts of the world, surnames with the root words "Mahm", "Muh" or "Muhamm" are seen, such as the Spanish surname Mauro and the Filipino surname Mabao, both of which are derived from Muhammad.

The surname is also found in other countries, such as Bangladesh (Mahmud or Mahmudur) and India (Mahmud). Similarly, the Latinized form of the surname – Mauricius – has been found in South and Central America.

Thus, although the Arabic spelling of the surname Muhammad is common in most Arab countries, its exact spelling and the spelling and form of its variants may be different in other countries.

Famous people with the name Muhammad

• Muhammad Ali: Iconic boxer
• Muhammad Abduh: Philosopher and Leader of Islamic Modernism
• Muhammad Javad Zarif: Iranian Foreign Minister
• Muhammad Gibril Abdallah Sanneh: Gambian Minister of Finance
• Muhammad Shahidul Haque: Bangladeshi Army Chief of Staff
• Muhammad Babangida: Nigerian Military Leader
• Muhammad Yusuf Kazzab: Pakistani Sufi Saint
• Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Adami: Somali Politician
• Muhammad Deen Taseer: Pakistani Politician
• Muhammad Iqbal: Pakistani Poet and Politician
• Muhammad Umar Khan: Nigerian Politician
• Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi: Egyptian Islamic and Theologian
• Muhammadu Inuwa Wada: Nigerian Politician
• Muhammad Shafiq Ur Rehman: Pakistani Politician
• Muhammad Khurshid: Pakistani Politician
• Muhammad Gul Khan nasir: Afghan Military Officer
• Muhammad al-Khwarizmi: Persian Mathematician
• Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri: Sufi Scholar and Pakistani Politician
• Muhammad Sanusi II: Emir of Kano
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Founder of Pakistan

Other surnames

Muhammed