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

Altaf, 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 Altaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Altaf in America

Altaf is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Altaf surname appeared 363 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 Altaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Altaf 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 Altaf

The surname ALTAF has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have been derived from the word "al-taff," which means "the kind one" or "the generous one." The name is most commonly found in regions with a strong Islamic influence, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East.

This surname is thought to have emerged during the medieval period, when Arabic naming conventions began to spread across various regions alongside the expansion of Islam. The earliest recorded instances of the name ALTAF can be traced back to historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, where it was often used to identify individuals renowned for their kindness and generosity.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname ALTAF was Altaf al-Din, a Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 13th century. He was renowned for his contributions to literature and philosophy, and his works were widely celebrated during his lifetime and for centuries thereafter.

In the 14th century, the name ALTAF appeared in several manuscripts and records from the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. These documents often referred to individuals with this surname as respected members of the nobility or as high-ranking officials within the court.

During the 16th century, the ALTAF surname gained prominence in the Ottoman Empire, with several notable figures bearing this name. One such individual was Altaf Bey, a military commander who played a crucial role in the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes in 1522.

In the 17th century, the name ALTAF was associated with a renowned family of scholars and poets in the city of Isfahan, Persia (modern-day Iran). Among the most famous members of this family was Altaf Ali Isfahani, a celebrated poet who was highly regarded for his mastery of the Persian language and his contributions to literature.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname ALTAF continued to be found in various parts of the Middle East and South Asia, often associated with individuals from prominent families or those who held positions of authority within their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Altaf

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

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

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

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