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

Asfar, 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 Asfar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asfar in America

Asfar is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asfar surname appeared 167 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 Asfar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asfar 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 Asfar

The surname ASFAR has its origins in the Middle East, tracing back to the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "asfar," which means "yellow" or "pale." This surname likely originated in the Arabian Peninsula or the Levant region during the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ASFAR can be found in the writings of medieval Arab scholars and historians. In the 9th century, the renowned Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi mentioned a town called "Asfar" in his work "Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim" (The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions). This town was located in what is now modern-day Iraq, suggesting that the surname may have originated in this region.

The surname ASFAR is also believed to have been associated with certain occupations or trades related to the color yellow, such as dyers or weavers. In medieval times, surnames often derived from professions or physical characteristics, and the name ASFAR could have been given to individuals involved in the production or trade of yellow-colored goods.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname ASFAR. One such person was Abu Al-Qasim Asfar Al-Qurashi (born around 900 CE), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Baghdad. Another was Ibn Al-Asfar (born in the 11th century), a renowned poet and literary figure from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal).

In the 13th century, the Mamluk historian Al-Maqrizi mentioned a family called "Al-Asfarayn" in his chronicle "Al-Suluk li Ma'rifat Duwal al-Muluk" (The Path to Knowledge of the Dynasties of Kings). This family hailed from the city of Asfar in modern-day Iraq, further solidifying the connection between the surname and the geographic region.

During the Ottoman Empire period, the ASFAR surname was also found among Turkish and Balkan populations, likely due to the spread of Arabic influence and intermarriage. One notable figure from this era was Mehmet Asfar Pasha (born in the 16th century), an Ottoman statesman and governor who served in various provinces of the empire.

The surname ASFAR has also been associated with place names or locations that incorporate the word "asfar," such as the village of "Asfar" in modern-day Lebanon or the town of "Asfarah" in Iran. These place names may have contributed to the further spread and adoption of the surname in these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asfar

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

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

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

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