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Shama Family History

Shama Surname Meaning

Jewish (from Syria, Egypt, and Yemen): metonymic occupational for maker of and/or dealer in candles from Arabic sham(a)‘a ‘candle’.

Muslim (Egypt): from shamā of unknown meaning used as a surname.

Indian: from a personal name of Arabic origin meaning ‘light’ (compare 1 above).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Shama family from?

You can see how Shama families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shama family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Shama families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 10 Shama families living in Lancashire. This was about 59% of all the recorded Shama's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Shama families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shama surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Shama ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shama. 36% of Shama men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Shama women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shama were Clerk and Laborer.

View Census Data for Shama | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    36%
  • Salesman
    22%
  • Operator
    15%
  • Clerk
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Shama family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Shama. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shama census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shama

Passenger Lists

There are 356 immigration records available for the last name Shama. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Shama immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 152 military records available for the last name Shama. For the veterans among your Shama ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shama military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shama family history

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What is the average Shama lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Shama life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Shama in 1963 was 72, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shama

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shama ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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