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

Maalim, 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 Maalim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maalim in America

Maalim is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maalim surname appeared 103 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 Maalim.

The history of the last name Maalim

The surname MAALIM has its origins in the Swahili language, spoken primarily along the coasts of East Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "mu'allim," meaning teacher or instructor. The name likely emerged during the spread of Islam and Arabic culture along the Swahili Coast, which dates back to the 8th century AD.

MAALIM is believed to have been initially used as a title or honorific for respected Islamic scholars and educators. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname, particularly among communities in modern-day Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Somalia. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents and trade records from the medieval period, documenting the cultural and commercial exchanges between the Swahili Coast and the broader Islamic world.

One notable early reference to the name can be found in the "Kilwa Chronicle," a 16th-century manuscript that chronicles the history of the Kilwa Sultanate, a powerful trading empire located in present-day Tanzania. The chronicle mentions several individuals with the surname MAALIM, suggesting the name's prevalence among the learned class of the region during that era.

In the 18th century, a renowned Swahili poet and scholar named MAALIM Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir al-Buri gained recognition for his contributions to Swahili literature and Islamic thought. Born in 1719 in Mombasa, Kenya, he authored several influential works, including the epic poem "Utendi wa Tambuka" and a collection of proverbs known as "Mashairi ya Maalim Buri."

Another notable figure bearing the surname MAALIM was Sheikh Maalim Juma al-Kilindini, a 19th-century Islamic scholar and teacher from Mombasa. He played a significant role in spreading Islamic education along the Swahili Coast and was highly regarded for his knowledge of Quranic studies and Arabic literature.

In the 20th century, MAALIM Mohamed Sidi Barra, born in 1907 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, gained fame as a prominent Swahili writer and poet. His works, including the novel "Utendi wa Mwana Kupona" and the collection "Diwani ya Maalim Barra," explored themes of cultural identity, social issues, and the preservation of Swahili literary traditions.

Throughout its history, the surname MAALIM has been closely associated with the dissemination of knowledge, education, and Islamic scholarship in the Swahili-speaking regions of East Africa. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the name continues to hold cultural significance and is carried by many individuals in these areas to this day.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maalim

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

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

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

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