alThani

Al Thani (Arabic: آل ثاني) is a prominent surname in Qatar and among Gulf Arab populations. The name comes from the Arabic word thānī meaning "second," with the definite article al- forming آل ثاني, typically rendered in English as Al Thani or Al-Thani. It is best known as the name of the ruling family of Qatar and is also used by other families of Qatari origin.

Historical note: The Al Thani clan settled around Doha in the 18th–19th centuries. Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani (c. 1798–1878) is commonly regarded as the founder of the modern state of Qatar and the head of the Al Thani line. Through the 19th and 20th centuries, the Al Thani family consolidated authority under the British protectorate system; Qatar gained independence in 1971. The current emir is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (since 2013).

Contemporary role: The Al Thani family remains the ruling house, with members occupying key positions in government, business, and diplomacy. The surname is widely used by Qataris and appears in other Gulf populations due to historical ties and migration.

Variants and usage: Spelling varies with transliteration, including Al Thani and Al-Thani. In Arabic, آل ثاني literally means "the second," historically used to identify a person who was the second with a given name in a family line.