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

Salahi, 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 Salahi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Salahi in America

Salahi is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Salahi surname appeared 137 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 Salahi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Salahi 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 Salahi

The surname Salahi is believed to have originated in the Middle East, with its roots traced back to ancient Arabic origins. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Salah," which means "prayer" or "supplication." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were devout in their religious practices or had a close association with spiritual or religious matters.

The earliest known records of the Salahi surname can be found in historical manuscripts from the 11th century, where it was documented among families residing in various regions of the Arabic world, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. These ancient records provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution of the name during that era.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the Salahi surname was Imam Abu Salah al-Salahi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 11th century. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology were widely influential and contributed significantly to the development of Islamic thought during that period.

In the 13th century, the name Salahi gained further prominence with the rise of the renowned Sufi mystic and poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi. Although not directly bearing the Salahi surname, Rumi's spiritual teachings and poetic works had a profound impact on the Islamic world, and his influence extended to various regions where the Salahi name was present.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign, which spanned several centuries, the Salahi surname was found among influential families and individuals who held positions of authority within the imperial administration. One notable figure was Mehmed Salahi Pasha, a high-ranking Ottoman statesman and military leader who lived in the late 16th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Salahi name continued to be associated with individuals of notable stature and achievements. In the 19th century, Ahmad Salahi was a renowned Egyptian scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the fields of literature and Islamic studies.

Another prominent figure bearing the Salahi surname was Sami Salahi, a Syrian-born writer, journalist, and political activist who lived in the early 20th century. He played a pivotal role in the Arab nationalist movement and advocated for the unity and independence of Arab nations.

These historical figures, along with countless others who have carried the Salahi surname over the centuries, have contributed to the rich tapestry of cultural, intellectual, and political legacies associated with this name across various regions of the Middle East and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Salahi

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!