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

Aftanas, 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 Aftanas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aftanas in America

Aftanas is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aftanas surname appeared 120 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 Aftanas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aftanas to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aftanas

The surname AFTANAS has its origins in Russia, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Greek name Athanasios, meaning "immortal" or "eternal life." The name likely entered the Russian language through the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, as many Greek names were adopted by Slavic cultures during the spread of Christianity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the AFTANAS surname can be found in the Velvet Book, a 17th-century collection of genealogical records of Russian noble families. The name appears in various forms, such as Aftanasiev, Aftanasov, and Aftanasiadi, reflecting regional variations and patronymic formations.

In the 18th century, the AFTANAS surname gained prominence with the emergence of Afanasy Aftanas, a renowned Russian painter known for his religious icons and murals. Born in 1715 in the town of Vologda, Afanasy Aftanas became a respected artist in the Imperial Court, contributing to the decoration of several churches and cathedrals in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Another notable figure bearing the AFTANAS surname was Ivan Aftanas, a Cossack leader who played a significant role in the Russian conquest of Siberia in the 17th century. Born in 1620 in the town of Tomsk, Ivan Aftanas led a group of Cossack explorers and fur traders, establishing settlements and fortifications along the Yenisei River and the region now known as Krasnoyarsk.

In the 19th century, the AFTANAS surname was associated with several prominent intellectuals and writers. Konstantin Aftanas (1822-1892) was a Russian philosopher and literary critic who contributed significantly to the development of Russian cultural thought. His works explored the relationship between religion, philosophy, and literature, influencing subsequent generations of Russian thinkers.

Another noteworthy figure was Nadezhda Aftanas (1856-1923), a Russian poet and translator. Born in St. Petersburg, she gained recognition for her lyrical poetry and translations of works by writers such as Henrik Ibsen and Walt Whitman. Nadezhda Aftanas was also an active participant in the literary circles of her time, contributing to the vibrant cultural life of pre-revolutionary Russia.

Throughout its history, the AFTANAS surname has been associated with various regions of Russia, including the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vologda, as well as the Siberian territories. While the name has maintained its Russian roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aftanas

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

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 Aftanas 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aftanas has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Aftanas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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