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

Jelani, 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 Jelani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jelani in America

Jelani is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jelani surname appeared 107 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 Jelani.

The history of the last name Jelani

The surname Jelani is of Swahili origin, originating from the Bantu language family widely spoken in East Africa. It is believed to have emerged in the region around the 15th century during the rise of the Swahili culture along the Indian Ocean coast.

Jelani is derived from the Swahili word "jelani," which means "mighty" or "powerful." The name was initially used to describe individuals with strength, courage, or those who held positions of authority within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Jelani can be found in the chronicles of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who encountered Swahili-speaking settlements during his voyage to Africa in the late 15th century. Da Gama's accounts mention individuals with the name Jelani, indicating its use among the coastal Swahili people.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Jelani surname became more widespread as the Swahili culture flourished and expanded through trade and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean region. Prominent individuals bearing the name include Jelani bin Hamisi, a renowned Swahili trader and navigator who facilitated the exchange of goods between the East African coast and the Arabian Peninsula in the early 18th century.

Another notable figure was Jelani al-Bakri, a Swahili scholar and poet who lived in the coastal city of Kilwa (present-day Tanzania) during the late 15th century. His works, which celebrated the rich culture and traditions of the Swahili people, are considered among the earliest examples of Swahili literature.

In the 19th century, the Jelani surname gained further recognition with the rise of the Omani sultanate's influence in East Africa. Jelani bin Salim al-Harthi was a prominent Swahili leader and advisor to the Omani sultan, playing a crucial role in the administration of the coastal regions during the mid-19th century.

Additionally, Jelani al-Habshi was a renowned Swahili explorer and navigator who traveled extensively throughout the Indian Ocean region, contributing to the mapping of coastal areas and facilitating trade between East Africa and various Indian Ocean ports.

Throughout history, the Jelani surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including traders, scholars, leaders, and explorers, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and influential role of the Swahili people in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jelani

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

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

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

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