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

Malachi, 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 Malachi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Malachi in America

Malachi is the 32268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Malachi surname appeared 714 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 Malachi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Malachi 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 Malachi

The surname Malachi has its origins rooted in the Hebrew language, deriving from the Hebrew word "mal'achi" which translates to "my messenger" or "my angel." This name has strong biblical connections, as Malachi was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the author of the Book of Malachi.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Malachi can be traced back to medieval Europe, particularly in regions with significant Jewish populations. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Malachi ben Jacob, a prominent Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in Mainz, Germany, in the 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Malachi was predominantly found among Jewish communities across Europe, where it was often used as a patronymic or a surname derived from a father's or ancestor's given name. The name's biblical origins and association with prophecy may have contributed to its adoption by Jewish families.

In the 16th century, records show a Malachi Meir residing in Prague, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). This individual was a respected rabbi and author, known for his work on Jewish law and ethics.

As Jews faced persecution and expulsion from various regions of Europe, the surname Malachi spread to different parts of the continent and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and displacement.

One notable bearer of the surname was Malachi Hacohen, a 17th-century Dutch rabbi and author, who published works on Jewish law and philosophy. His surname, Hacohen, means "the priest" in Hebrew, indicating his lineage from the priestly class.

In the 18th century, Malachi Zalman Margaliot, a prominent Talmudic scholar and kabbalist, lived in Zhitomir, present-day Ukraine. His works on Jewish mysticism and commentary on the Torah were widely studied and influential.

Another significant figure was Malachi ben Jacob Hayyim, a 19th-century Italian rabbi and author, known for his treatises on Jewish law and ethics, as well as his commentaries on the Talmud and other sacred texts.

While the surname Malachi has its roots in the Hebrew language and Jewish culture, it has also been adopted by individuals of other faiths and backgrounds over time, particularly in anglicized forms such as Malachy or Malachi.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Malachi

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

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

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

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