Explore the Family Name Haji
The meaning of Haji
1. Muslim: from ḥajjī ‘hadji’, an Arabic title denoting someone who has undertaken the hadj, from ḥajj ‘the pilgrimage to Mecca (enjoined on all Muslims as the fifth pillar of Islam)’. See also Haj. 2. Muslim: from a personal name based on Arabic ḥajjī ‘hadji’ (see 1 above). 3. Somali: from a Somali Muslim personal name of Arabic origin (see 2 above). It is also found in Ethiopia. — Note: Since Somalis traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Haji in the United States?
The surname Haji witnessed an increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010, according to data collected by the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Haji was ranked 31,738th most common surname in the U.S., but by 2010 it had surged to the 17,521st position, a change of approximately 44.79%. The count of individuals with this surname also increased from 688 in 2000 to 1,608 in 2010, representing a significant growth of 133.72%. Consequently, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people nearly doubled from 0.26 to 0.55.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,738 | #17,521 | 44.79% |
| Count | 688 | 1,608 | 133.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.55 | 111.54% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Haji
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Haji, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the highest percentage of Haji bearers identified as Black (33.58%), followed closely by White (21.66%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (23.98%). By 2010, however, those identifying as Black had risen significantly to 62.81%, while representation among White and Asian/Pacific Islander groups decreased to 17.54% and 12.75%, respectively. Similarly, the percentage of those with multiple races claiming the Haji surname dropped dramatically from 20.2% to 5.91%. Interestingly, new appearances in the ethnicity distribution lineup include Hispanic (0.62%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.37%), who weren't represented at all in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 33.58% | 62.81% | 87.05% |
| White | 21.66% | 17.54% | -19.02% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 23.98% | 12.75% | -46.83% |
| Two or More Races | 20.2% | 5.91% | -70.74% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.62% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.37% | 0% |