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

Gefen, 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 Gefen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gefen in America

Gefen is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gefen surname appeared 105 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 Gefen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gefen 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 Gefen

The surname GEFEN is of Hebrew origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient Israelites. It is derived from the Hebrew word "gefen," which translates to "vine" or "vineyard." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in viticulture or resided in areas known for their vineyards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GEFEN surname can be found in the Cairo Geniza, a repository of Jewish manuscripts dating back to the 11th century. These documents contain references to individuals bearing the name, indicating its longstanding presence within Jewish communities in the Middle East.

During the Middle Ages, the GEFEN name appeared in various European chronicles and records. In the 13th century, a prominent scholar named Rabbi Yitzchak ben Moshe Gefen was renowned for his expertise in Talmudic studies and Jewish law. His writings and teachings had a significant impact on the intellectual landscape of his time.

As Jewish communities dispersed throughout Europe, the GEFEN name began to surface in different regions. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Shmuel Gefen was a prominent rabbi and leader in the Jewish community of Krakow, Poland. His teachings and leadership left a lasting legacy in the region.

In the 18th century, a family by the name of GEFEN settled in the city of Vilna, now known as Vilnius, Lithuania. This family played a crucial role in the cultural and religious life of the local Jewish community, producing several respected rabbis and scholars over generations.

One of the most renowned individuals bearing the GEFEN surname was Efraim Gefen, a renowned Hebrew poet and writer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1872 in Odessa, Ukraine, Gefen's works were widely acclaimed for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into the human condition.

Another notable figure was Yitzhak Gefen, a prominent Zionist leader and one of the founders of the modern Israeli wine industry. Born in 1887 in Ukraine, Gefen immigrated to Palestine in the early 20th century and established several successful wineries, contributing significantly to the development of viticulture in the region.

Throughout history, the GEFEN surname has been associated with various place names and regional variations in spelling. In some areas, it was written as "Geffen" or "Geffin," reflecting local linguistic influences and dialects.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gefen

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

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

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

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