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

Billah, 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 Billah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Billah in America

Billah is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Billah surname appeared 185 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 Billah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Billah 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 Billah

The surname Billah has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran and Iraq. The name is derived from the Arabic phrase "Billah," which translates to "by God" or "with God's help." This religious connotation suggests that the name may have been adopted by individuals or families deeply rooted in Islamic traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Billah can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in several Islamic texts and manuscripts from the region. These historical records often mentioned individuals with the surname Billah in religious contexts, suggesting their involvement in scholarly or spiritual pursuits.

During the 13th century, the Billah surname gained prominence in the city of Baghdad, which was a significant center of Islamic learning and culture at the time. Several scholars and religious leaders bearing the surname Billah are documented in historical accounts from this period, including Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Billah (1210-1278), a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian.

As the centuries progressed, the Billah surname spread to other parts of the Middle East and surrounding regions, carried by families migrating or establishing trade routes. In the 15th century, records from the Ottoman Empire mention individuals with the surname Billah residing in various cities and towns across the vast territory.

One notable figure with the Billah surname was Khwaja Billah (1457-1531), a prominent Sufi mystic and spiritual leader from present-day Afghanistan. His teachings and writings influenced the spread of Sufism throughout the region and beyond.

Another individual of historical significance was Mahmud Billah (1675-1739), a renowned Islamic scholar and poet from the Mughal Empire in India. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and poetry garnered acclaim and were widely studied in his time.

In the 19th century, the Billah surname appeared in various parts of the Middle East, including the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. One notable figure was Ahmed Billah (1819-1892), a respected Islamic scholar and jurist from Egypt who contributed significantly to the interpretation of Islamic law.

While the surname Billah has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has since been adopted by families across various ethnicities and religious backgrounds, particularly in regions with historical ties to the Middle East and North Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Billah

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

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

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

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