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

Gafa, 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 Gafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gafa in America

Gafa is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gafa surname appeared 122 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 Gafa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gafa 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 Gafa

The surname GAFA is believed to have originated in Spain, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "gafa," which means "hook" or "crook," possibly referring to a physical attribute or occupation of an early bearer of the name.

One of the earliest records of the GAFA surname can be found in the Libro de la Montería, a 14th-century hunting manuscript from the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile. The text mentions a certain "Pero Gafa," who was likely a huntsman or gamekeeper during that time.

In the 15th century, the GAFA name appears in various documents from the region of Aragon, particularly in the town of Zaragoza. An example is Juan Gafa, a merchant and landowner who lived between 1425 and 1489.

During the 16th century, the GAFA surname spread to other parts of Spain, including the Basque Country. One notable figure was Martín Gafa de Arratia (1530-1597), a renowned architect and sculptor who worked on several important projects in the region.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the GAFA name also found its way to the Americas. In the 17th century, records show a Pedro Gafa who was among the early settlers in the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (present-day Dominican Republic).

Another significant figure was Juan Bautista Gafa (1642-1718), a Spanish military officer and adventurer who played a role in the exploration and colonization of the Philippines. He was appointed Governor of the Mariana Islands in 1696.

In the 18th century, the GAFA surname continued to appear in various parts of Spain, as well as in Spanish colonies. One notable individual was José Gafa y Fernández (1712-1784), a prominent lawyer and judge who served in the Royal Audiencia of Seville.

While the GAFA surname has its roots firmly planted in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Nonetheless, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era in the Iberian Peninsula, where it first emerged as a distinctive family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gafa

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

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

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

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