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

Moalim, 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 Moalim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moalim in America

Moalim is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moalim surname appeared 148 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 Moalim.

The history of the last name Moalim

The surname MOALIM is believed to have originated in Somalia, a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is derived from the Arabic word "mu'allim," which means "teacher" or "instructor." The name likely first emerged in the 8th or 9th century during the early spread of Islam in the region.

MOALIM is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name for individuals who worked as teachers or scholars in religious institutions or schools. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname passed down through generations within Somali communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MOALIM can be found in a 13th-century manuscript titled "Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar" (The Abridgement of the History of Mankind), written by the Somali scholar and traveler Ahmad ibn Fadlan al-Moalim. This work provides valuable insights into the cultural and intellectual life of the region during that period.

In the 15th century, the name MOALIM appeared in several historical accounts related to the Ajuran Sultanate, a prominent Islamic kingdom that ruled over parts of modern-day Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. One notable figure was Moalim Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, a prominent military leader and scholar who played a significant role in the resistance against the Ethiopian Empire's attempts to conquer the region.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several influential individuals bearing the surname MOALIM contributed to the literary and intellectual traditions of Somalia. These include Moalim Yahya Ali, a renowned poet and philosopher born in the late 18th century, and Moalim Nuur Galal, a revered scholar and teacher who lived in the early 19th century and was known for his expertise in Islamic law and theology.

In the 20th century, Moalim Abdullahi Hassan was a prominent Somali poet and playwright who played a significant role in the development of modern Somali literature. He was born in 1919 and is widely regarded as one of the founders of Somali drama.

Another notable figure was Moalim Abdullahi Guled, a respected educator and community leader who was born in 1925 and dedicated his life to promoting education and social development in Somalia.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence and significance of the surname MOALIM in Somali society, reflecting its historical associations with education, scholarship, and intellectual pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moalim

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

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

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

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