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

Somal, 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 Somal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Somal in America

Somal is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Somal surname appeared 123 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 Somal.

The history of the last name Somal

The surname "SOMAL" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region that is now modern-day Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged around the 12th century, during the Ghurid dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

One possible derivation of the name is from the Sanskrit word "soma," which refers to a sacred plant used in ancient Hindu rituals. It is suggested that the name may have been adopted by individuals involved in the cultivation or trade of this plant.

Another theory proposes that the name is derived from the Persian word "somal," meaning "dark-skinned" or "brown-complexioned." This could indicate that the name was initially used to describe individuals with darker skin tones, possibly originating from specific ethnic or regional groups.

The earliest known record of the surname "SOMAL" can be found in a manuscript dating back to the 13th century, which documents a land grant made to a person bearing this name. This suggests that the name had already gained recognition and was associated with individuals of some status or prominence during that period.

Over the centuries, the surname "SOMAL" has been carried by several notable individuals. One such person was Mian Mir Somal (1550-1635), a renowned Sufi mystic and spiritual guide who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region.

Another prominent figure was Sher Muhammad Somal (1780-1853), a military commander and statesman who served as the Nawab of Bahawalpur, a princely state in present-day Pakistan, during the early 19th century.

In more recent times, Nasir Ali Somal (1920-2008) was a celebrated Pakistani poet and writer, known for his contributions to the Sindhi language literature. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary.

Khalid Somal (1941-2019) was a distinguished Pakistani diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, during his long and illustrious career.

Additionally, Mir Hazar Khan Somal (1905-1999) was a prominent politician and social activist from Balochistan, Pakistan, who advocated for the rights and welfare of the Baloch people throughout his life.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname "SOMAL" throughout history, each contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the cultural and societal fabric of the regions they belonged to.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Somal

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Somal, 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!