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

Farag, 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 Farag surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farag in America

Farag is the 20364th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farag surname appeared 1,305 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 Farag.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farag 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 Farag

The surname Farag is an ancient Arabic name that originated in Egypt, specifically in the region of the Nile Delta. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "faraj," meaning relief or deliverance. The name's origins can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the Islamic conquest of Egypt.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farag can be found in the writings of renowned Arab historian and geographer, al-Masudi, who lived from 896 to 956 AD. In his work, "Muruj adh-dhahab wa ma'adin al-jawahir" (Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems), he mentions a man named Farag ibn Salih, a prominent scholar and poet from the region of Fayyum.

During the Mamluk period in Egypt, which lasted from 1250 to 1517 AD, the name Farag gained further prominence. One notable figure was Farag ibn Barquq, a powerful Mamluk sultan who ruled from 1399 to 1412 AD. He is credited with strengthening the Mamluk state and expanding its territories.

In the 16th century, a famous Egyptian scholar and traveler, Hasan al-Farag, embarked on a journey to Mecca and documented his experiences in a travelogue titled "Rihlat al-Farag" (The Journey of Farag). This work provided valuable insights into the cultural and religious practices of the time.

Another significant figure bearing the surname Farag was Mahmoud Farag, an Egyptian writer and journalist who lived from 1885 to 1956. He was a prominent figure in the Egyptian literary scene and played a crucial role in promoting the use of colloquial Arabic in literature.

In more recent history, Naguib Farag (1913-2000) was an Egyptian diplomat and politician who served as the Foreign Minister of Egypt from 1973 to 1977. He played a pivotal role in the negotiations leading to the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.

While the surname Farag is predominantly found in Egypt and the surrounding regions, it has also spread to other parts of the Arab world and beyond due to migration and cultural exchanges. However, its roots can be firmly traced back to the ancient lands of the Nile Delta, where it has stood as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farag

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

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

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

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