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

Mollah, 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 Mollah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mollah in America

Mollah is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mollah surname appeared 215 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 Mollah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mollah 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 Mollah

The surname Mollah originated in South Asia, particularly in the regions of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It has its roots in the Arabic word "mawla," which means a learned or educated person, often referring to those with expertise in Islamic law and theology.

The name Mollah is believed to have emerged in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period, when Islamic scholars and religious leaders from various parts of the Muslim world settled in the region. These individuals, known as Mollahs, played a significant role in spreading Islamic teachings and establishing educational institutions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mollah can be found in the chronicles of the Delhi Sultanate, a series of Muslim dynasties that ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 16th century. Several prominent Mollahs served as advisors and scholars during this period, contributing to the intellectual and cultural landscape of the region.

In the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire, the name Mollah gained further prominence. Mollahs held positions of authority in the imperial court and played a crucial role in shaping the legal and educational systems of the Mughal era. One notable figure was Mollah Abdul Qadir Badayuni (1540-1615), a renowned historian and scholar who served as a courtier under the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Over the centuries, the name Mollah spread across the Indian subcontinent, with individuals bearing this surname making significant contributions in various fields. Mollah Shamsuddin (1662-1749), a Bengali scholar and philosopher, is recognized for his influential work in Islamic mysticism and philosophy.

Another prominent figure was Mollah Gholam Hossein Khan (1809-1865), a Persian scholar and poet who served as the Prime Minister of Persia (present-day Iran) during the Qajar dynasty. His literary works and contributions to Persian literature have been widely acclaimed.

In more recent times, Mollah Abdur Rauf (1926-2011), a Bangladeshi philosopher and academic, gained recognition for his work in promoting Islamic ethics and values through his writings and teachings.

While the surname Mollah has its roots in the Islamic scholarly tradition, it has also been adopted by various communities across South Asia, transcending religious boundaries. The name continues to be prevalent in the region, carrying a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mollah

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

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

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

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