Sham

It could be from Arabic شَام (šām, literally “Syria”), from which it spread also to Gujarat. Perhaps also an altered spelling of French Cham.

Sham (plural Shams)

1. A surname.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Sham is the 33810^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 673 individuals. Sham is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (69.39%) and White (20.95%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Sham”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

• AMHS, HMAS, HSAM, Hams, MASH, MHAs, MSHA, Mahs, Mash, SAHM, Sahm, hams, mash

From Arabic الشام (aš-šām, “the north”).

• IPA^(key): /ʃâm/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [ʃâŋ]

Shâm f

1. Syria (a country in West Asia, in the Middle East)

   Synonym: Sīr̃iyà

2. the Levant: Syria, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon