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Ali Family History

Ali Name Meaning

Arabic: from the personal name ʿAlī ‘high lofty sublime’. Al-ʿAlī ‘the All-High’ is an attribute of God/Allah also seen in the compound name ʿAbd al-ʿAlī ʿAbdul-ʿAlī (see Abdulali ). The name ʿAlī was borne by the first imam of the Shiite Muslims ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (c. 600–661). This surname is found among both Muslims and Christians. In North America it is also established among African Americans. Compare Alali Alli and Aly .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Wali, Alf, Li, Aloi, Alm, Alli, Alix, Aldi, Al, Aly

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Ali family from?

You can see how Ali families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ali family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Ali families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 15 Ali families living in Norfolk. This was about 60% of all the recorded Ali's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Ali families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ali surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Ali ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Shop Boy and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ali. 18% of Ali men worked as a Shop Boy and 74% of Ali women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ali were General Labourer and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Ali | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Shop Boy
    18%
  • Ships Fireman
    10%
  • Seaman
    8%
  • General Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    9%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ali family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 19,000 census records available for the last name Ali. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ali census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Ali

Passenger Lists

There are 39,000 immigration records available for the last name Ali. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 26,000 military records available for the last name Ali. For the veterans among your Ali ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Ali lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Ali life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Ali in 1951 was 55, and 57 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ali

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