Surname Houssein - Meaning and Origin
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Houssein: What does the surname Houssein mean?
The last name Houssein is of Arabic origin and is found mostly in the Middle East. It is a patronymic name and conveys the meaning as a descendant or son of Hussein.
The word ‘Hussein’ is derived from the Arabic language and means ‘handsome’ or ‘beautiful.’ It is also sometimes seen as ‘Ali Houssein’ meaning ‘son of Ali.’ Ali was the son-in-law of Muhammad the Prophet and one of the most respected figures in Islam. Therefore, many Muslims bestow this surname on their children to honor and remember Ali and Hussein’s courage and strength.
There have been many famous people bearing the name Houssein such as Sultan Selim II of the Ottoman Empire. Other well known figures include Hussein of Jordan, the former king of Jordan and his son, Prince Hussein ibn Abdullah, the current heir to the Jordanian throne. There have also been political leaders, writers and academics who have been bestowed the surname Houssein such as Sheikh Ahmed Houssein, a political leader in the United Arab Emirates and Nobel Prize winning novelist Najeeb Mahfuz whose family were from Egypt.
Having this surname is a sign of prestige and honour, with those bearing it demonstrating their pride in their Arabian heritage. In modern times, the name is found in many parts of the world, including Europe and the US.
Order DNA origin analysisHoussein: Where does the name Houssein come from?
The last name Houssein is most often associated with people of Arab or Muslim descent, but is found in various places throughout the world. In the Middle East, it is especially common in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, and Yemen.
In India, it is also fairly common, primarily among the people of the Indian state of Kashmir.
In North America, the last name Houssein is not exceedingly popular but it can be found in many places in the United States, including California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. It is also found in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
In Europe, it is most prominently found in France, where the majority of the people bearing the surname Houssein come from. It is also seen in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Finally, the name is also quite common in Africa, with the largest concentration in the countries of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Overall, it would seem that the name Houssein is fairly widespread today, present in many countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and India.
Variations of the surname Houssein
The surname Houssein is a variant of the Arabic name Husayn and the Persian name Husayin, and is commonly found among people of Arab, Persian, and South Asian descent. It is also spelt as Hussein, Husain, Hussain, Husayin, and Husein. There are also some alternate spellings of the surname such as Husseyn, Husseyni, Husseini, Hussaini, Huseyni, and Husayniy.
Surnames of the same origin as Houssein include Housein, Husseini, Husayn, Ghussain, Ghoussaini, Hussain, Gausain, Qasim, Kasim, Gusein, Gousein, Gussaini, Ghosein, Ghasein, Ghussaini, Ghousein, Ghoussein, Ghassein and Ghossein. These names are found in different parts of the world, including the Arab world, India, and other parts of the Middle East and South Asia.
In India, it is commonly pronounced as 'Husaini' and among Parsi communities, it is pronounced as 'Ghoussein'. In the United States, the spelling is often changed to 'Hussein' or 'Hussain'. It is also common to find the surname Houssein in countries with large populations of Muslim immigrants, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Houssein is a relatively common name in Muslim countries, and is often adopted as a first name. It is derived from the Arabic form of the personal name Hussein, which means "good" or "small". The name is a reminder of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, who gave his life for the cause of Islam. It is also interpreted to mean "gentleman", "lion" or "good man".
Famous people with the name Houssein
- Barack Obama Hussein: The 44th President of the United States of America (2009: 2017), he is the first African American head of state and one of the most influential leaders of the modern age.
- Omar Houssein: A Somali-American actor, best known for his role on the ABC’s popular series ‘ Grey’s Anatomy’.
- Ahmed Houssein: An Egyptian singer best known for his rendition of Umm Kulthum’s classic song ‘ Enta Omri’.
- Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani human rights activist and youngest Nobel laureate, she is known for her advocacy of women’s education rights in the face of Taliban threats.
- Huma Abedin: A longtime Hillary Clinton aide and political aide and Vice Chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
- Margaret Houssein: A British singer and musical theatre actress whose performances have been seen on Broadway stages all over the world.
- Nadia Houssein: A British-Somali barrister and human rights lawyer, she is Partner at Doughty Street Chambers.
- Naveed Houssein: A Bangladeshi-British entrepreneur, author and philanthropist who founded the global, integrated development firm Livelihood Venture.
- Sheik Hamad Houssein: The current Emir of Qatar, responsible for many of Qatar's advances in economy, education and technology.
- Tarek Houssein: An American comedian and videographer, he is best known for his web series ‘ Tarek and Abe’ which has built up a devoted fan base.