Explore the Family Name Mulla
The meaning of Mulla
Muslim (mainly India) and Albanian (southern Albania and Kosovo): status name from mulla ‘mullah’, denoting someone with a qualification in Islamic religious learning, (ultimately) from Persian mulla, a derivative of Arabic maulā ‘scholar’. In India, the title was also applied to a judge, schoolmaster, etc. Compare Molla.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mulla in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Mulla increased significantly from 2000 to 2010. Ranked 52,289 in 2000, it ascended to 37,591 by 2010, marking a rank change of 28.11 percent. The count of individuals with this surname saw an even more dramatic increase, rising from 373 to 592, which represents a 58.71 percent growth. The proportion per 100k also experienced a substantial uptick of 42.86 percent, moving from 0.14 to 0.2.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,289 | #37,591 | 28.11% |
| Count | 373 | 592 | 58.71% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.2 | 42.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mulla
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals interesting shifts for those carrying the Mulla surname between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander grew from 35.39 percent to 44.76 percent, an increase of 26.48 percent. However, the proportion identifying with two or more races decreased significantly, dropping 72.56 percent from 10.46 percent to just 2.87 percent. White identifiers also saw a slight decline, falling 9.30 percent from 51.21 percent to 46.45 percent. Meanwhile, those identifying as Hispanic more than doubled from 1.34 percent to 2.87 percent, highlighting a dramatic 114.18 percent change. There was no change for Black identifiers or for American Indian and Alaskan Native identifiers; these percentages remained at zero for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 51.21% | 46.45% | -9.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 35.39% | 44.76% | 26.48% |
| Two or More Races | 10.46% | 2.87% | -72.56% |
| Hispanic | 1.34% | 2.87% | 114.18% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |