Kahale last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kahale

A surname of Hawaiian origin meaning "the bright one" or "luminous".

Kahale, 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 Kahale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kahale in America

Kahale is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kahale surname appeared 161 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 Kahale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kahale 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 109758 107565 2.02%
Count 161 153 5.10%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Kahale

The surname Kahale has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the region of Lebanon and Syria. Its roots can be traced back to the Arabic language, with the word "Kahale" meaning "someone from the village of Kahal." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name, as was common for many surnames in that region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kahale can be found in historical documents from the 16th century, where it appeared as a reference to a family residing in the village of Kahal, located in the northern part of modern-day Lebanon. This area was known for its fertile lands and agricultural traditions, which may have contributed to the prevalence of the name among local families.

Over the centuries, variations of the spelling have emerged, such as Kahali, Kahaleh, and Kahaleh, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and connection to the original place name have remained consistent.

One notable individual bearing the surname Kahale was Boutros Kahale, a Lebanese author and poet who lived in the late 19th century. His works explored themes of nationalism, identity, and the cultural heritage of the Levant region. Another prominent figure was Khalil Kahale, a Lebanese-American painter and sculptor active in the early 20th century, whose works have been exhibited in renowned galleries across the United States and Europe.

In the realm of politics, Walid Kahale, a Lebanese diplomat and politician, served as the Minister of Information in the 1970s, playing a crucial role in shaping the country's communication policies during a turbulent period in its history.

Moving further back in time, historical records from the 18th century mention a merchant named Nasri Kahale, who was involved in the lucrative trade of Lebanese cedar wood, a highly sought-after commodity at the time. This provides insight into the economic activities and occupations of families bearing this surname in earlier eras.

Another notable individual was Maryam Kahale, a renowned herbalist and healer who lived in the 17th century. Her knowledge of traditional medicine and natural remedies was widely respected, and she is credited with preserving and passing down valuable medicinal practices to subsequent generations.

While the surname Kahale has its roots in a specific geographic region, it has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families who have migrated and established new roots in various parts of the world. However, its origins and connections to the village of Kahal remain an integral part of its rich history and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kahale

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

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 Kahale was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 39.75% 64
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 37.27% 60
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 18.01% 29
Hispanic Origin 4.35% 7

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 Kahale has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 39.75% 30.07% 27.73%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 37.27% 46.41% -21.85%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 18.01% 13.73% 26.97%
Hispanic 4.35% 9.80% -77.03%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Kahale last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kahale-surname-popularity/.

"Kahale last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kahale-surname-popularity/. Accessed 9 June, 2025

Kahale last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kahale-surname-popularity/.

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