Find out how popular the last name Ali is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ali.

Ali, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ali surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ali in America

Ali is the 559th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ali surname appeared 60,002 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 20 people would have the surname Ali.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ali to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ali

The surname ALI is believed to have originated in the Middle East and is an Arabic name derived from the word "Ali" which means "sublime" or "exalted". The name is closely associated with Islam and has its roots in the Arabian Peninsula.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in Islamic texts and manuscripts dating back to the 7th century AD, where it was used to refer to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali ibn Abi Talib was the fourth caliph of Islam and is revered by Shia Muslims as the first Imam.

As Islam spread across the Middle East and North Africa, the name ALI became more widespread. It was adopted by many families as a surname, particularly in areas such as modern-day Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and Morocco. Variations of the spelling, such as Ali, Aly, and Aley, also emerged in different regions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname ALI can be found in the writings of the famous Arab philosopher and polymath, Al-Biruni, who lived between 973-1048 AD. He mentions several individuals with the surname ALI in his works on astronomy and geography.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the surname ALI. One such person was Muhammad Ali, the renowned Egyptian writer and intellectual who lived from 1769 to 1849. He was a prominent figure in the Arabic literary renaissance and wrote extensively on various topics, including history, philosophy, and theology.

Another famous bearer of the surname was Amjad Ali Khan, the Indian classical musician and sarod player, who was born in 1945. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest living exponents of the sarod and has been awarded numerous honors, including the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.

In the field of sports, Muhammad Ali, the legendary American boxer and activist, is perhaps one of the most well-known individuals with the surname ALI. Born in 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., he later changed his name after converting to Islam. His impact on the sport of boxing and his stance against racism and the Vietnam War made him a cultural icon.

The surname ALI has also been associated with several historical figures in various parts of the world. In South Asia, the Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah II, who reigned from 1837 to 1857, had the title of "Ali Gauhar" as part of his regnal name. In Africa, the Sudanese leader Ismail al-Azhari, who led a resistance movement against British colonial rule in the early 20th century, is often referred to as Ali Abdel-Latif.

While the surname ALI has its roots in the Middle East and is closely tied to Islam, it has spread across various regions and cultures, reflecting the diverse histories and traditions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ali

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ali.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ali was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ali has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ali was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ali, please contact us.

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