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

Tijani, 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 Tijani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tijani in America

Tijani is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tijani surname appeared 187 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 Tijani.

The history of the last name Tijani

The surname Tijani is of Arabic origin and traces its roots to the Middle East, specifically the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed to have emerged during the early centuries of Islam, around the 7th or 8th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic word "tijan," which means "crowns" or "diadems."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tijani can be found in historical Islamic texts, where it was associated with a prominent Sufi order founded by Ahmad al-Tijani, a renowned Islamic scholar and mystic born in Algeria in 1737. This order, known as the Tijaniyyah, played a significant role in spreading Islamic teachings and practices across North Africa and parts of West Africa.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Abu Bakr Tijani, a prominent scholar and poet from Seville, Spain, gained recognition for his contributions to Arabic literature. His works have been preserved in various manuscripts and have influenced subsequent generations of writers and scholars.

The name Tijani also appears in historical records from the Ottoman Empire, where it was associated with individuals from various regions, including present-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. One notable bearer of the name was Tijani Bey, a 16th-century Ottoman statesman and military commander who played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire's territories.

In West Africa, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali, the name Tijani has been prevalent since the 19th century, when the Tijaniyyah Sufi order gained a significant following in the region. Several influential figures have carried this surname, including Usman dan Fodio, a renowned Islamic scholar and leader of the Sokoto Caliphate in present-day Nigeria, born in 1754.

Another important figure with the surname Tijani is Al-Hajj Umar Tal, a Tijani Muslim preacher and revolutionary leader from present-day Senegal, who lived from 1794 to 1864 and played a significant role in the spread of Islam and the establishment of several Islamic states in West Africa.

It is worth noting that the name Tijani has also been associated with various place names, such as the city of Tijani in Algeria and the Tijani Mosque in Zaria, Nigeria, further reflecting its historical significance and cultural impact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tijani

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

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

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

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