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

Golani, 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 Golani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Golani in America

Golani is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Golani surname appeared 109 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 Golani.

The history of the last name Golani

The surname GOLANI originates from the Hebrew language and has its roots in the Galilee region of northern Israel, dating back to the early 20th century. It is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "Golan," which refers to the Golan Heights, a plateau located in the region.

This name is closely associated with the Golani Brigade, an elite infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The brigade was formed in 1948, shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel, and its name was chosen to honor the Galilee region, where many of its initial recruits came from.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname GOLANI can be traced back to the mid-20th century, when it began appearing in military records and documents related to the Golani Brigade. Some of the notable individuals who bore this surname in the early years include:

1. Moshe Golani (1920-1993), one of the founding members of the Golani Brigade and a highly decorated officer in the IDF.
2. Avigdor Golani (1924-2011), a prominent Israeli politician and former member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), who served as a captain in the Golani Brigade during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

As the Golani Brigade gained fame and recognition for its valor and bravery in various military operations, the surname GOLANI became more widely adopted by Israeli families, particularly those with ties to the brigade or the Galilee region.

One of the most famous individuals to carry the surname GOLANI in more recent times is:

3. Shlomo Golani (born 1946), a renowned Israeli military historian and author, who served as a soldier in the Golani Brigade during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Other notable figures include:

4. Tomer Golani (born 1981), an Israeli professional basketball player who played for several teams in the Israeli Premier League and the Euroleague.
5. Yoav Golani (born 1988), an Israeli film director and screenwriter, known for his critically acclaimed debut feature film, "The Golani Brothers" (2016), which explored the life of two brothers serving in the Golani Brigade.

While the surname GOLANI is predominantly found in Israel, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world, particularly among Jewish communities, as a symbol of the resilience and courage of the Israeli military and the nation's struggle for independence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Golani

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

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

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

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