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

Zaki, 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 Zaki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaki in America

Zaki is the 19823rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaki surname appeared 1,356 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 Zaki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaki 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 Zaki

The surname Zaki has its origins in the Arabic-speaking world, particularly in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. The earliest records of the surname Zaki can be traced back to the medieval Islamic period, around the 9th to 11th centuries, a time when Arabic culture and language were flourishing and spreading.

The name Zaki is derived from the Arabic word زكي, which means "pure,” "chaste," or "righteous." It shares its roots with other Semitic languages and has variations in spelling, such as Zakki or Zaqqi, depending on the dialect and region. The use of the surname often indicated a person of notable virtue or good character.

Historical references to the surname Zaki can be found in various Islamic texts and records. One of the earliest references is in the works of scholars during the Abbasid Caliphate, a period when many names were documented in manuscripts for scientific, literary, and religious achievements. These texts often highlighted individuals with commendable reputations, reflecting the meaning of their surnames.

The earliest recorded individuals holding the surname Zaki include Mohammed Al-Zaki, a renowned scholar and mathematician who resided in Baghdad during the late 10th century. His works in the field of algebra significantly contributed to the development of mathematics in the Islamic Golden Age. Another notable figure is Al-Zaki Al-Halabi, a 12th-century poet from Aleppo, whose verses are still celebrated for their beauty and depth.

One prominent historical figure with the surname Zaki was Zaki Pasha, born in 1830 and died in 1900, who served as an influential Egyptian statesman and governor during the Ottoman Empire. His leadership and reforms in administrative governance were well-documented in various state and historical records.

In the 19th century, Mohammed Zaki Bey, an Egyptian military officer born in 1816 and died in 1888, gained prominence for his role in modernizing the Egyptian military. His efforts were crucial in establishing a more structured and efficient military framework, influencing Egypt's defensive capabilities.

Another significant historical personality is Zaki Naguib Mahmoud, a celebrated Egyptian philosopher and professor, born in 1905 and died in 1993. His contributions to the understanding and interpretation of Islamic philosophy have had a lasting impact on modern philosophical discourse in the Arab world.

The surname Zaki, with its rich etymological roots and historical significance, has been borne by many individuals who have left indelible marks in their respective fields. These individuals reflect the core virtues associated with the name, emphasizing purity, righteousness, and intellectual contributions across different periods and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaki

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

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

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

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