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

Belal, 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 Belal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belal in America

Belal is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belal surname appeared 145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Belal.

The history of the last name Belal

The surname Belal has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a significant Arab population. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "bilal," which means "water" or "moisture."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Belal can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when a notable figure named Bilal ibn Rabah, a former Abyssinian slave, became one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad. Bilal played a significant role in the early days of Islam and was honored with the title of "Muadhin," which means "the one who calls for prayer."

During the medieval period, the name Belal appeared in various Arabic manuscripts and historical records, often associated with scholars, poets, and religious figures. One such individual was Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Belali, a renowned Islamic scholar and writer who lived in the 10th century CE in the city of Baghdad.

As the Arabic culture and language spread across North Africa and parts of Europe, the name Belal also found its way into these regions. In Spain, for instance, there are records of individuals bearing the surname Belal during the era of Muslim rule, particularly in regions like Andalusia and Valencia.

One notable figure with the surname Belal was Abul-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi, also known as Albucasis or Abulcasis, who was a renowned Arab Muslim surgeon, physician, and scientist born in 936 CE in Cordoba, Spain. His influential work, "Al-Tasrif," a medical encyclopedia, was widely studied and referenced in Europe for centuries.

Another individual of note was Sidi Belal, a revered Sufi saint and scholar who lived in the 16th century in the city of Fez, Morocco. His shrine and tomb have become a significant pilgrimage site for many Muslims in the region.

In more recent centuries, the surname Belal has been found in various parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and among Arab communities in other parts of the world. Some notable figures include:

1. Ahmed Belal (1936-2018), an Egyptian actor and comedian known for his roles in numerous films and television shows.
2. Ahmed Belal (born 1942), an Egyptian judge and former Vice President of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt.
3. Yousef Belal (born 1970), a Kuwaiti footballer who played as a defender for the Kuwaiti national team.
4. Khalid Belal (born 1981), a Moroccan-Dutch professional boxer who competed in the super middleweight division.
5. Belal Muhammad (born 1988), an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the UFC's welterweight division.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belal

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

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 Belal 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.

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 Belal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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