Explore the Family Name Wali
The meaning of Wali
1. Muslim (mainly Pashto): from a personal name based on Arabic walī ‘lord, guardian, protector, saint’, or ‘friend’, often interpreted as a short form of Walī Allāh ‘friend of God’, an epithet of the prophet Muhammad. In the Ottoman Empire this word was used as a title for a local administrator. 2. Indian (Kashmir): Brahmin name, probably ultimately derived from Arabic walī (see 1 above). 3. Indian (Karnataka): Lingayat name of unexplained etymology. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Abdul, Afzal, Ahmad, Ghulam, Mohammad, Omar, Sayed, Ali, Amin, Bakir, Basem, Bashar. Indian Alaka, Anupam, Ashutosh, Autar, Mohan, Promod, Ramesh, Seema.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wali in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Wali" has seen an increase over the decade from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 43,629th in popularity, but by 2010 it had climbed up the ranks to 40,082nd, which represents a change of 8.13%. In terms of actual counts, there were 466 individuals with this surname in 2000, and this number rose to 547 in 2010, marking a significant increase of 17.38%. The proportion of people named Wali per 100,000 also increased from 0.17 in 2000 to 0.19 in 2010, indicating a rise of 11.76%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,629 | #40,082 | 8.13% |
| Count | 466 | 547 | 17.38% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.19 | 11.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wali
The ethnicity associated with the surname "Wali" has also exhibited notable changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 23.39% to 27.06%, whereas the share of those claiming two or more ethnic identities decreased from 20.17% to 11.88%. The percentage of those self-identifying as White saw a slight decrease from 32.83% to 32.18%. Interestingly, the Hispanic representation under this surname was introduced in 2010 at 2.93%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained constant at 0%. There was a considerable increase in the percentage of those identifying as Black, rising from 19.53% in 2000 to 25.96% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 32.83% | 32.18% | -1.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 23.39% | 27.06% | 15.69% |
| Black | 19.53% | 25.96% | 32.92% |
| Two or More Races | 20.17% | 11.88% | -41.1% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.93% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |