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

Ismaili, 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 Ismaili surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ismaili in America

Ismaili is the 46487th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ismaili surname appeared 458 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 Ismaili.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ismaili 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 Ismaili

The surname Ismaili has its origins traced back to the Middle East, specifically in regions like Iran and Afghanistan, where it was commonly found among members of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam. The name is believed to have derived from the word "Ismail," which refers to the son of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Islamic tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ismaili can be found in historical texts and manuscripts dating back to the 8th century, when the Ismaili community emerged as a distinct sect within Shia Islam. These early records often mention prominent figures and leaders within the Ismaili faith, such as the Fatimid caliphs who ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East from the 10th to the 12th centuries.

During the medieval period, the Ismaili name was particularly prevalent in regions like Persia (modern-day Iran) and Central Asia, where the Ismaili community had a significant presence. Several notable individuals bearing the Ismaili surname rose to prominence during this time, including the Persian poet and philosopher Nasir Khusraw (1004-1088), who was a prominent figure in the Ismaili intellectual tradition.

In the 16th century, the Ismaili community faced persecution and displacement, leading many to seek refuge in various parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent. This diaspora contributed to the spread of the Ismaili name across regions like South Asia, where it became associated with the Khoja and Bohra communities, which are primarily of Ismaili heritage.

One of the most famous historical figures with the Ismaili surname was Aga Khan I (1800-1881), the first Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community in modern times. He played a crucial role in reviving and reorganizing the Ismaili faith, and his descendants continued to lead the community as hereditary Imams.

Another notable individual was Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III (1877-1957), who was a prominent leader and diplomat, serving as the President of the League of Nations from 1937 to 1938. He was instrumental in securing recognition and rights for the Ismaili community in various parts of the world.

The Ismaili name has also been associated with several other influential figures throughout history, including the Indian writer and philosopher Idries Shah (1924-1996), who authored numerous works on Sufism and the Ismaili tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ismaili

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

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

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

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