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

Kelmendi, 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 Kelmendi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelmendi in America

Kelmendi is the 101737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelmendi surname appeared 177 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 Kelmendi.

The history of the last name Kelmendi

The surname Kelmendi is of Albanian origin, originating from the northern Albanian region of Malësia e Gjakovës, specifically the village of Kelmend. The name is derived from the toponym Kelmend, which is believed to have its roots in the Albanian word "kelmendë," meaning "white head" or "white summit," referring to the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains.

Historically, the Kelmendi surname has been closely associated with the Kelmendi tribe, a prominent Albanian clan that inhabited the Malësia e Gjakovës region for centuries. The tribe's influence and presence in the area can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and they played a significant role in the region's history, particularly during the Ottoman rule.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Kelmendi name can be found in the "Codex Venetian," a 16th-century document that chronicles the history and customs of various Albanian tribes. This document provides valuable insights into the Kelmendi tribe's traditions, social structures, and way of life.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals with the Kelmendi surname have made significant contributions in various fields. One such figure is Mahmud Pasha Kelmendi (1771-1837), a prominent Ottoman military leader and statesman who served as the Governor of Rumelia (a historical region in the Balkans) during the early 19th century.

Another prominent Kelmendi was Mustafa Asim Kelmendi (1800-1880), an Albanian scholar, writer, and poet who played a crucial role in the development of Albanian literature and language during the 19th century. His works, such as "Këngët e Milosaos" (Songs of Milosao), are considered literary treasures and have contributed to the preservation of Albanian cultural heritage.

In more recent history, Kadri Kelmendi (1903-1985) was a notable Albanian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Albania from 1958 to 1961. He played a significant role in shaping Albania's foreign policy during the Cold War era.

Alongside these historical figures, it is worth mentioning that the Kelmendi surname is also associated with several place names in the Malësia e Gjakovës region. For instance, the village of Kelmend, from which the surname originated, is located in the municipality of Gjakovë, and there is also a mountain range known as the Kelmendi Mountains (Malet e Kelmendisë).

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the Kelmendi surname have existed, such as Kelmendi, Kelmendi, and Kelmendi, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional dialects within the Albanian language. However, the core meaning and origins of the name have remained consistent, deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Malësia e Gjakovës region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelmendi

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

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

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

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