2000
#81,700
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 215
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Rare Last name
Adil
Just, honest, or righteous, often referring to someone who upholds justice or acts with integrity.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,111 Americans carry the last name Adil. That puts it at #26,524 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.32 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 308,510 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Adil surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Adil with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
1.1K
1 in 308,510
Census rank
#26,524
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
969
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 969 bearers of the surname Adil in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.32 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 26524th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Adil, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.7%. The next largest groups are White (19.5%) and Two or More Races (6.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Adil
The surname "ADIL" originates from the Arabic language and is believed to have roots in the Middle East, particularly in regions like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. It is derived from the Arabic word "adl," which means "justice" or "fairness."
In the early days of Islam, the name "ADIL" was often used as a descriptive term to refer to individuals who were known for their sense of justice, impartiality, and equitable treatment of others. It was not uncommon for people to adopt such descriptive names as surnames during that period.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "ADIL" can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and historical records dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. These records often mentioned individuals with the name "ADIL" in connection with judicial or administrative roles, reflecting the name's association with justice and fairness.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname "ADIL" was Al-Adil Abu Bakr, a prominent Kurdish ruler who governed parts of modern-day Iraq and Syria during the 12th and 13th centuries. He was known for his efforts to maintain stability and promote justice in the regions under his rule.
Another prominent individual with the surname "ADIL" was Adil Shah, the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty that ruled the Bijapur Sultanate in the Deccan region of India from the 15th to the 17th century. This dynasty left a lasting legacy in the form of architectural marvels, including the iconic Gol Gumbaz, one of the largest domed structures in the world.
In the Mughal era, the name "ADIL" also gained prominence. One notable figure was Adil Shah Suri, who ruled the Suri Empire in northern India during the 16th century. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to consolidate power in the region.
Another influential figure with the surname "ADIL" was Adil Qutb Shah, the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty that ruled the Golconda Sultanate in the Deccan region of India from the 16th to the 17th century. This dynasty was known for its patronage of arts, literature, and architecture, leaving behind a rich cultural heritage.
Over time, the surname "ADIL" has spread beyond its Middle Eastern origins and can now be found in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations. However, its connection to the ideals of justice and fairness remains a central aspect of its historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Adil
Among Census respondents with the surname Adil, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.7%. The next largest groups are White (19.5%) and Two or More Races (6.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Adil bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Adil surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander69.7% · 675
- White19.5% · 189
- Two or more races6.9% · 67
- Black or African American3.3% · 32
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Adil
Adil appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#49,723
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 422
+207 bearers (+96.3%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Up 31,977 places
2020
#26,524
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 969
+547 bearers (+129.6%)
Per 100,000 0.32
Rank movement Up 23,199 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #81,700 | 215 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #49,723 | 422 | 0.14 | +207 bearers (+96.3%) | Up 31,977 places |
| 2020 | #26,524 | 969 | 0.32 | +547 bearers (+129.6%) | Up 23,199 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Adil surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49,723 | #26,524 | 46.7% |
| Count | 422 | 969 | 129.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.32 | 131.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Adil bearers went from 422 to 969 (+129.6% change). The surname moved up 23,199 positions in the national ranking, going from #49,723 to #26,524.
FAQ
Adil surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Adil?
Name Census estimates that about 1,111 living Americans carry the surname Adil. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 308,510 residents.
How common is Adil?
Adil ranks #26,524 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.32 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 969 people with the surname Adil. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,111), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.32 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.32 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Adil.
Has Adil become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Adil went from 422 recorded bearers to 969. That is an increase of 547 (+129.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #49,723 to #26,524.
What does the Census say about the background of Adil?
Among Census respondents with the surname Adil, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.7%. The next largest groups are White (19.5%) and Two or More Races (6.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Adil in the 2020 Census, accounting for 69.7% (675 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Adil appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (69.7%), White (19.5%), Two or More Races (6.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Adil (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Adil mean?
Just, honest, or righteous, often referring to someone who upholds justice or acts with integrity. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Adil (0.32 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Adil?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.