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

Jilani, 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 Jilani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jilani in America

Jilani is the 47186th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jilani surname appeared 450 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 Jilani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jilani 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 Jilani

The surname JILANI originated in the Middle East and North Africa region, with its roots tracing back to the Arabic language. The name is believed to have derived from the word "Jilan," which means "the land of dates" or "date palm groves." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have hailed from areas known for cultivating date palms, such as oases or fertile regions along rivers.

In the medieval period, the JILANI surname was particularly prevalent in regions that were part of the vast Islamic empires and caliphates. Historical records indicate that the name was found in regions like modern-day Iraq, Iran, and parts of North Africa, where Arabic culture and language had a significant influence.

One of the earliest known references to the JILANI name can be found in the writings of the renowned Islamic scholar and mystic, Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (1077-1166). He was a prominent Sufi saint and the founder of the Qadiri order, which became one of the most influential Sufi orders in the Islamic world. His teachings and writings had a profound impact on Islamic spirituality and mysticism.

Another notable figure bearing the JILANI surname was Mulla Sadra (1571-1640), also known as Sadruddin Muhammad al-Jilani. He was a prominent Persian philosopher, theologian, and mystic who made significant contributions to the development of Islamic philosophy and metaphysics. His works synthesized various strands of Islamic thought and influenced subsequent generations of scholars.

In the 16th century, the JILANI name appeared in records related to the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure was Mir Jilani (1528-1591), a Persian-born military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Mughal Empire and was known for his military prowess and administrative abilities.

Another historical figure bearing the JILANI surname was Hafiz Muhammad Noor Jilani (1830-1910), a prominent Islamic scholar and judge from British India. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and played a significant role in the interpretation and application of Islamic law in the region.

Throughout history, the JILANI surname has been associated with various places and regions, reflecting the migration and dispersal of its bearers. Some variations of the name include Jelani, Gillani, and Jillani, which may have emerged due to regional dialects or transliterations from different languages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jilani

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

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

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

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