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

Khalil, 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 Khalil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khalil in America

Khalil is the 5024th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khalil surname appeared 6,983 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Khalil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Khalil 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 Khalil

The surname Khalil has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "khalil" which means "friend" or "beloved". The name first emerged in the Middle East, particularly in the regions that make up modern-day Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

Khalil is believed to have been used as a surname as early as the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by those who had a close friendship or relationship with the Prophet Muhammad or his companions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Khalil can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab historian and scholar, Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 AD). In his work, the Muqaddimah, he mentions a person named Abu Bakr Khalil al-Qurtubi, who was a prominent scholar and judge from Cordoba, Spain.

The name Khalil also appears in various manuscripts and historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 AD), which ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Iran to North Africa. One notable figure was the poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Maari (973-1057 AD), whose full name was Abu al-Ala Ahmad ibn Abdallah al-Tanukhi al-Maari al-Khalil.

In the 12th century, a prominent Islamic scholar and philosopher, Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes (1126-1198 AD), was born in Cordoba, Spain. His full name was Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd al-Khalil.

Another significant figure bearing the surname Khalil was the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Al-Ashraf Khalil (1263-1293 AD). He ruled during a period of political turmoil and is known for his military campaigns against the Crusaders and the Mongols.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign (1299-1923 AD), the surname Khalil was relatively common among the Arabic-speaking populations within its territories. One notable individual was the Ottoman scholar and historian, Mustafa Naima Khalil (1655-1716 AD), who wrote a comprehensive history of the Ottoman Empire.

While the surname Khalil has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, it can be found among Arab communities in Europe, North America, and other regions, carrying with it a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khalil

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

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

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

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