Explore the Family Name Bilal
The meaning of Bilal
Muslim: from the Arabic personal name Bilāl, from bilāl ‘moist(ure)’. History: Bilāl was a slave of Abyssinian origin who became the first muezzin (caller to prayer) in Islam. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Mohammad, Hassan, Abdul, Abdullah, Muhammad, Naimah, Wali, Aaliyah, Abdel, Abubakr, Aisha, Alaa.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bilal in the United States?
According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bilal has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, Bilal was ranked 22,999, but by 2010 it had risen to rank 17,014. This is a notable shift of approximately 26.02%. During the same period, the count of individuals with this surname also increased from 1,038 to 1,670, a jump of 60.89%. The proportion of individuals named Bilal per 100,000 people also rose from 0.38 to 0.57, marking a 50% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,999 | #17,014 | 26.02% |
| Count | 1,038 | 1,670 | 60.89% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.38 | 0.57 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bilal
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Bilal also shifted between 2000 and 2010, as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census data. The most striking change is the more than doubling of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, which went from 11.18% to 22.63%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races decreased by over half, from 7.03% to 3.35%. The proportion of white individuals slightly increased from 8.86% to 10.96%. The number of people identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native, however, was suppressed for privacy in 2010. Finally, the percentage of individuals identifying as Black dropped from 70.62% to 60.24%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 70.62% | 60.24% | -14.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 11.18% | 22.63% | 102.42% |
| White | 8.86% | 10.96% | 23.7% |
| Two or More Races | 7.03% | 3.35% | -52.35% |
| Hispanic | 1.64% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.67% | 0% | 0% |