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

Ghani, 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 Ghani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ghani in America

Ghani is the 22000th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ghani surname appeared 1,179 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 Ghani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ghani 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 Ghani

The surname Ghani has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed to have emerged during the 7th century AD, a time of rapid expansion of the Arab world and the spread of Islam.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ghani can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The term "al-Ghani" is an Arabic word meaning "the Self-Sufficient" or "the Wealthy," and it is one of the names attributed to Allah (God) in the Islamic tradition.

The surname Ghani is thought to have initially been adopted as a descriptive name, referring to individuals who were prosperous, affluent, or self-sufficient. It may have been bestowed upon those who possessed wealth, land, or other valuable resources.

In the 8th century, the name Ghani appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and poets. One notable figure from this era was Abu Bakr al-Ghani, a celebrated poet and literary critic who lived in Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate.

As the Arab world expanded and Islamic culture flourished, the surname Ghani spread to various regions, including parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Over time, different spellings and variations of the name emerged, such as Gani, Ghany, and Ghaniy.

During the 12th century, the name Ghani gained prominence in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions like Punjab and Kashmir, where it was adopted by Muslim communities. One notable figure from this era was Maulana Ghani, a revered Sufi saint and scholar who lived in the city of Kalpi, India.

In the 14th century, the Ghani surname appeared in historical records from the Ottoman Empire, where it was associated with influential families and scholars. One such individual was Mustafa Ghani, a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and poet who lived during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

The 16th century saw the name Ghani spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas, as a result of migration and trade. One notable figure from this period was Ibrahim Ghani, a Moroccan explorer and diplomat who traveled to various European courts on behalf of the Moroccan Sultan.

Throughout history, the surname Ghani has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, poets, artists, and religious figures. Some other notable individuals with the surname Ghani include:

1. Abdul Ghani Baradar, a prominent Afghan Taliban leader and co-founder of the Taliban movement.
2. Iqbal Ghani, a Pakistani novelist and short story writer known for her works exploring feminist themes.
3. Mustafa Ghani Emin, a 19th-century Kurdish poet and writer who played a significant role in the development of modern Kurdish literature.
4. Abdallah Ghani, a Moroccan painter and sculptor known for his abstract and expressionist works.
5. Ghani Khan, a 16th-century Mughal military commander and governor who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ghani

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

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

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

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