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

Kali, 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 Kali surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kali in America

Kali is the 68547th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kali surname appeared 287 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 Kali.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kali 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 Kali

The surname Kali has its origins in India, where it has been present for centuries. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kali', which means 'time' or 'death'. This name is associated with the Hindu goddess Kali, the fearsome and powerful deity symbolizing both destruction and rebirth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kali dates back to the 6th century CE, in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bengal and Odisha, where the worship of the goddess Kali was widespread.

Historically, the name Kali has been linked to various influential figures. One notable bearer was Kali Prasad Mukhopadhyay (1799-1868), a renowned Bengali scholar, writer, and social reformer. He played a significant role in the Bengal Renaissance and advocated for the education of women.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kali was Kali Charan Ghosh (1845-1917), a Bengali author and playwright who contributed significantly to the development of Bengali literature. His works often explored social and cultural themes, reflecting the changing times of 19th century Bengal.

In the realm of politics, Kali Prasanna Mukherjee (1866-1919) was a prominent Indian nationalist and lawyer who actively participated in the Indian independence movement. He served as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1917.

The name Kali has also been associated with notable artists and performers. Kali Banerjee (1891-1981) was a celebrated Indian painter and sculptor, known for his contributions to the Bengal School of Art. His works often depicted scenes from Hindu mythology and rural life.

In more recent times, Kali Prasad Baisya (1929-1999) was a renowned Assamese writer and playwright, widely acclaimed for his contributions to Assamese literature. His works often explored social and cultural themes, reflecting the nuances of the Assamese society.

While the surname Kali has its roots in India, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit word and its association with the Hindu goddess Kali, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kali

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

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

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

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