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

Gaffoor, 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 Gaffoor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaffoor in America

Gaffoor is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaffoor surname appeared 100 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 Gaffoor.

The history of the last name Gaffoor

The surname "GAFFOOR" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region that is now modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. The name can be traced back to the Arabic word "Ghafoor," which means "forgiving" or "pardoner." It is likely that the name was initially a descriptive term or a title given to individuals known for their merciful and compassionate nature.

The earliest known records of the surname "GAFFOOR" date back to the 14th century, during the reign of the Timurid Empire in Central Asia. This powerful dynasty, founded by Timur (also known as Tamerlane), ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Turkey to India. It is believed that the name "GAFFOOR" was used by members of the Timurid nobility or by individuals associated with the court.

One of the earliest documented references to the name "GAFFOOR" can be found in the "Zafar Nama," a historical chronicle written by Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, a prominent historian and scholar of the Timurid era. This work, completed in the late 15th century, mentions several individuals bearing the surname "GAFFOOR" who held positions of importance within the Timurid administration.

In the following centuries, the name "GAFFOOR" continued to be prevalent in the region, particularly in what is now modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Mirza Ghulam Gaffoor (1823-1892), a renowned Persian poet and scholar who authored several acclaimed works on literature and philosophy.

2. Ghulam Gaffoor Khan (1865-1932), an influential Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the reign of King Habibullah Khan.

3. Syed Gaffoor Ahmed (1876-1949), an Indian Muslim scholar and educator who played a significant role in establishing educational institutions in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

4. Abdul Gaffoor (1901-1974), a celebrated Pakistani musician and composer, known for his contributions to the classical music tradition of the subcontinent.

5. Ghulam Gaffoor Siddiqui (1920-2001), a prominent Pakistani judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court from 1979 to 1982.

While the name "GAFFOOR" has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even in some parts of Europe and North America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaffoor

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

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 Gaffoor 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.

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

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

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