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

Malhi, 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 Malhi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Malhi in America

Malhi is the 33036th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Malhi surname appeared 693 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 Malhi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Malhi 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 Malhi

The surname Malhi is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to the Punjab region of present-day India and Pakistan. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "malla," which means "wrestler" or "athlete," and is thought to have been a title or occupational name for wrestlers or those involved in martial arts.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Malhi can be found in ancient Hindu and Sikh texts, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest known references is in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, where the name is mentioned in relation to a devotee or follower of the Sikh faith.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Malhi surname was prevalent among the Jatt agricultural community in the Punjab region. During this time, the name was also associated with the Malhi Rajas, a prominent ruling dynasty in the region.

Notable individuals bearing the Malhi surname include Bhai Maha Singh Malhi (1699-1737), a revered Sikh martyr who sacrificed his life for his faith. Malhi Singh (1848-1916) was a renowned Punjabi poet and writer, known for his contributions to the literary heritage of the region.

Another distinguished figure was Sardar Khushwant Singh Malhi (1915-2014), a renowned Indian author, journalist, and diplomat, best known for his works such as "Train to Pakistan" and "Delhi: A Novel."

In more recent times, the Malhi surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, artists, and professionals. One such example is Dr. Amrik Singh Malhi (1937-2022), a renowned Indian-American professor and author, who made significant contributions to the field of agricultural sciences.

While the surname Malhi has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Nonetheless, the name retains its historical and cultural significance, serving as a testament to the rich heritage of the Punjab region and its martial traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Malhi

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

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

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

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