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

Alaffa, 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 Alaffa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alaffa in America

Alaffa is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alaffa surname appeared 136 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 Alaffa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alaffa 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 Alaffa

The surname "ALAFFA" is believed to have originated in the region of Andalusia, Spain, during the 8th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "al-'affa," which means "chastity" or "purity." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals known for their virtuous or moral conduct.

During the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted from 711 to 1492, the name "ALAFFA" gained prominence among the Muslim population. It is possible that the name was adopted by converted Christians who embraced the Arabic language and cultural influences of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document from the 13th century that cataloged the distribution of land and property in Seville after the city's reconquest by the Christian forces. This document mentions several individuals with the surname "ALAFFA," indicating their presence in the region during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the "Libro del Repartimiento de Lorca," which recorded the division of lands in the city of Lorca after its reconquest. This suggests that individuals bearing the name "ALAFFA" had settled in various parts of southern Spain.

A notable figure with this surname was Ibn Alaffa, a renowned Arabic poet and scholar who lived in Seville during the 12th century. He was renowned for his contributions to literature and was celebrated for his mastery of the Arabic language.

During the Renaissance period, the name "ALAFFA" spread beyond the Iberian Peninsula. Records from the 16th century indicate that individuals with this surname had migrated to other parts of Europe, such as Italy and France, likely due to trade or religious persecution.

In the 17th century, Juan Alaffa, a Spanish painter known for his religious artwork, gained recognition for his contributions to the Baroque art movement. His works can be found in several churches and museums across Spain.

Another notable figure was Pedro Alaffa, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. He is credited with contributing to the exploration and mapping of the Caribbean islands.

By the 18th century, the name "ALAFFA" had established a presence in the Americas, particularly in regions with strong Spanish colonial influences, such as Mexico and parts of the United States.

Throughout history, the surname "ALAFFA" has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, explorers, and settlers, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the far-reaching impact of the Spanish diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alaffa

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

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

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

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