Surname Omar - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Surname History Through iGENEA: An Enlightening Journey into the Omar Lineage

My journey with iGENEA DNA analysis embarked me on a remarkable journey of self-discovery. Unraveling my ancestors' paths, understanding the historical significance and geographical origins of my family name, Omar, was a beautifully enlightening experience. It shook my preconceived notions and gave me a stronger sense of identity.

N. Omar

Omar: What does the surname Omar mean?

The last name Omar is derived from the Arabic personal name ‘Umar or Omar, which itself is certainly of pre-Islamic origin. The name is thought to mean either ‘العمر’ or ‘life’, as an alternative to the more common translation, ‘eloquent’. The name Umar is one of the most widely used personal names in the Muslim world.

Umar appears in the literature and histories of many diverse cultures, including in the story of Umar Khayyam, a Persian poet, mathematician, philosopher and astronomer of the 11th century CE whose works are still popular today. The name Omar is also used widely in western countries, in particular as a middle name, often as a nod to the Arabic culture from which its origin can be attributed.

The last name Omar is often associated with qualities or traits like bravery and resilience, as these are qualities attributed to Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the companion of Prophet Muhammad and the second Caliph of the Islamic faith. Umar was said to have been a devout and passionate worshipper of Allah, and a courageous and just leader. These qualities have been passed down through the generations, and are still revered in many Islamic cultures today.

The last name Omar is an important symbol of pride for many in the Muslim world, as it not only signifies descent from respected figures, but also holds a great amount of culture and tradition. It is a testament to the strength of faith and the importance of family in Islamic culture, and is thus a name that will live on.

Omar: Where does the name Omar come from?

The last name Omar is very common in the Middle East, especially in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq. Though Omar is Arabic in origin, it is also prevalent across several other cultures including Persian, Malay, Pakistani, Turkish, and Somali.

Outside of the Middle East, Omar is also extremely popular in Latin America. It is the 14th most common family name in Puerto Rico, with more than 176,000 people registered with it. Elsewhere in Latin America, Omar is reportedly the fourth most common name in Mexico (more than 3,639,000 people) and 11th in Colombia (more than 724,000). Additionally, according to a WorldNamePublicProject survey conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Omar is the most popular of all surnames.

In the United States, Omar is listed as the 418th most common surname in the country. As of the last census in 2020, there were more than 89,010 people registered with the Omar surname in the United States. It is most populous in California, Texas, and Illinois.

Aside from these particular countries and regions, the last name Omar can also be commonly found in several other parts of the world, such as in Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, and Germany. Altogether, millions of people from diverse cultural backgrounds proudly carry the Omar name.

Variations of the surname Omar

The surname Omar is derived from a personal name and has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the surname Omar include Omer, Oomore, Oommar, Ummer, Umer, Uimore, Ummar, Ummar, Omare, Omaree, Omaree, Omarr, Umarr, Omaar, and Omaire.

The many variants of this surname can often be attributed to linguistic and cultural influences, often resulting from migration or relocation. In some languages, such as Spanish, the name may be spelled as Omar or Omaro. Similarly, in Arabic, the name is may be spelled as Ommar or Omar. Additionally, the patronymic variant of Omar, which is Omari, may also be seen in some cultures.

The Scottish and Irish surnames Omaree and Omaire are derived from the Gaelic personal name Omeir, which is a form of the Arabic personal name Omer. The English surnames Omore and Umer are derived from the Old Norse personal name Ulfmar.

Variations of this surname may also be attributed to phonetic spelling or phonetic interpretation when recording the name in official documents, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as passenger lists and census records. As a result of this, the surnames Ummar and Umarr may be seen in some cases.

In summary, the surname Omar has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which can be attributed to linguistic and cultural influences, phonetic spelling, and the origin of the personal name.

Famous people with the name Omar

• Mohamed Omar: Somali singer and composer
• Kenneth Omar Hammond: British physicist and chemist
• Taysir Omar: Palestinian actor, director and producer
• Bob Omar: American film actor and producer
• Omar Abdel-Rahman: Egyptian theologian, spiritual leader
• Frederik Willem de Klerk: South African statesman and Nobel Laureate
• Khaled Omar: Egyptian footballer
• Omar Bongo: Gabonese statesman and President
• Omar Cook: American professional basketball player
• Omar El Akkad: Canadian-Egyptian journalist and author
• Omar Sy: French actor and comedian
• Omar Rodríguez-López: Musician and producer
• Omar Sharif: Egyptian actor, known for films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago"
• Omar Vizquel: Venezuelan professional baseball player
• Omar Khayyam: Persian mathematician, astronomer and poet
• Omar Mir Seddique Mateen: American perpetrator of the Orlando nightclub shooting
• Omar Mateen: American perpetrator of the Pulse nightclub shooting

Other surnames

OmanOmay