Find out how popular the last name Afrah is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Afrah.

Afrah, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Afrah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Afrah in America

Afrah is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Afrah surname appeared 145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Afrah.

The history of the last name Afrah

The surname Afrah has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the early days of the Islamic civilization.

Afrah is derived from the Arabic word "farah," which means joy, delight, or happiness. It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals or families who exhibited a cheerful and joyous demeanor or those who brought happiness and joy to their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Afrah can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts from the 8th century, where it was used as a descriptor for individuals known for their positive and uplifting personalities.

In the 10th century, the name Afrah appeared in the personal records of a prominent family in the city of Basra, located in present-day Iraq. This family was known for their contributions to the arts and literature, and their name became associated with the pursuit of knowledge and cultural enrichment.

During the Mamluk period, which spanned from the 13th to the 16th century, several notable figures carried the surname Afrah. One such individual was Abu al-Afrah al-Dimashqi, a renowned poet and scholar born in Damascus in the late 13th century, who gained recognition for his poetic works praising the virtues of joy and contentment.

In the 16th century, the Afrah family played a significant role in the Ottoman Empire's administrative and military affairs. One of their most illustrious members was Ibrahim Pasha Afrah, a high-ranking Ottoman statesman and military commander who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Another notable bearer of the Afrah surname was Fatima al-Afrah, a pioneering female scholar and poet from Aleppo, Syria, who lived during the 17th century. Her literary works celebrated the beauty of life and encouraged others to embrace happiness and positivity.

The name Afrah has also been associated with various geographical locations within the Middle East. For instance, there is a town called Afrah in the governorate of Dhamar, Yemen, as well as an area known as Wadi Afrah in the region of Asir, Saudi Arabia.

Throughout history, the surname Afrah has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, poets, military leaders, and administrators, all contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle East and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Afrah

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Afrah.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Afrah was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Afrah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afrah, please contact us.

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