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

Alf, 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 Alf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alf in America

Alf is the 45959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alf surname appeared 464 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 Alf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alf 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 Alf

The surname ALF is of Old Norse origin, derived from the personal name Alfr, which means "elf" or "supernatural being." This name is believed to have originated in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway and Sweden, during the Viking Age (793-1066 AD).

The earliest recorded instances of the name ALF can be traced back to the 11th century in various Scandinavian sources, such as the Icelandic Sagas and the Danish Landnámabók. These records often referred to individuals with the name Alfr or its variants, such as Alfer or Alfher.

One notable historical figure with the surname ALF was Alf Erlingsson (1165-1207), a Norwegian chieftain and military commander who played a significant role in the civil wars of the late 12th century. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to King Sverre Sigurdsson.

Another prominent individual was Alf Holmgersson (1891-1976), a Swedish author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories depicting life in rural Sweden. He is particularly renowned for his novel "The Emigrants" (published in 1949), which chronicles the experiences of Swedish emigrants to the United States in the 19th century.

In England, the surname ALF is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ælf," which also means "elf" or "supernatural being." One notable figure with this surname was Sir Alf Ramsey (1920-1999), an English football player and manager who led the England national team to victory in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

The surname ALF has also been associated with several place names, such as Alveston in Gloucestershire, England, which is derived from the Old English "Ælfstān" (meaning "elf stone") and may have influenced the surname's development in that region.

Other historical figures with the surname ALF include Alf Engen (1909-1997), a Norwegian-American skier and ski instructor who helped popularize the sport in the United States, and Alf Sollström (1903-1984), a Swedish painter and sculptor known for his abstract and surrealist works.

Overall, the surname ALF has a rich history rooted in Old Norse and Old English traditions, with connections to various regions, individuals, and cultural influences throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alf

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

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

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

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