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

Filali, 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 Filali surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Filali in America

Filali is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Filali surname appeared 117 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 Filali.

The history of the last name Filali

The surname Filali is of Moroccan origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "Filali," which refers to a person from the Filala tribe, a subdivision of the larger Berber ethnic group that inhabited parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The Filala people were known for their nomadic lifestyle and expertise in agriculture and animal husbandry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Filali surname can be found in a manuscript from the late 13th century, which mentions a prominent figure named Ahmed Filali, who was a religious scholar and advisor to the ruling dynasty of the time. This document provides valuable insight into the cultural and social significance of the name during that era.

In the 14th century, the Filali surname gained prominence when the Filala tribe played a pivotal role in the resistance against foreign invasions. Several Filali warriors and leaders emerged during this period, including Yusuf Filali (born circa 1320), who led a successful campaign against the Portuguese forces in northern Morocco.

The name Filali is also closely associated with the Saadian dynasty, which ruled Morocco from the 16th to the 17th century. During this time, the Filala tribe formed a significant part of the ruling elite, and many individuals with the Filali surname held high-ranking positions within the government and military. One notable figure was Ahmad al-Mansur Filali (1549-1603), a sultan renowned for his military prowess and expansion of the Moroccan empire.

In the 18th century, the Filali surname gained further recognition with the rise of the Alaouite dynasty. Moulay Ismail Filali (1645-1727), the founder of this dynasty, was a powerful ruler who consolidated control over Morocco and established a centralized administration. His reign saw the construction of many iconic architectural landmarks, including the famous Bab Mansour gate in Meknes.

Another prominent figure bearing the Filali surname was Muhammad al-Filali (1800-1869), a renowned scholar and poet who made significant contributions to Moroccan literature and culture. His works, which included poetry, historical accounts, and religious texts, are still widely studied and celebrated today.

Throughout the centuries, the Filali surname has maintained its significance and connection to its Berber roots, with many individuals from this lineage continuing to play influential roles in various aspects of Moroccan society, including politics, academia, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Filali

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

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

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

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