shamar

Shamar is a masculine given name used in various cultures and, less commonly, a surname. It is encountered in English-speaking countries and in parts of Africa and the Caribbean, among others. The name is often traced to the Hebrew root shamar, meaning guard or keep, yielding the sense of guardian or watchman.

In Tibetan Buddhism, Shamar is a title borne by a line of reincarnate lamas known as the Shamarpa, commonly referred to as the Red Hat Lamas. The Shamarpa lineage dates to medieval Tibet and has played a role in the religious history and transmission of teachings within the tradition.

In modern usage, Shamar functions primarily as a personal name. Individuals named Shamar have appeared in diverse fields, including sports, the arts, and public life, reflecting the name’s broad geographic diffusion. Variant spellings such as Shemar or Shamaar appear in different languages and communities.

There are no widely recognized geographical locations simply named Shamar; when the term appears in reference works, it most often denotes a person’s name or, in Buddhist contexts, a religious title, rather than a place. Related terms to explore include Shamarpa and variants of the name Shamar.