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

Ghafoor, 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 Ghafoor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ghafoor in America

Ghafoor is the 49268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ghafoor surname appeared 427 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 Ghafoor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ghafoor 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 Ghafoor

The surname GHAFOOR is of Arabic origin, traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "Ghafur" which means "the Forgiver" or "the Oft-Forgiving". This name was originally bestowed upon individuals known for their compassionate and forgiving nature.

The earliest known records of the surname GHAFOOR date back to the 9th century, where it was found in ancient manuscripts and genealogical records from the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed that the name first emerged in cities such as Mecca and Medina, where Islamic culture and traditions were deeply rooted.

As the Islamic faith spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, the surname GHAFOOR traveled with those who embraced the religion. In the 11th century, the name appeared in various historical documents from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Iran to Morocco.

One notable figure with the surname GHAFOOR was Abu Bakr al-Ghafoor, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his extensive works on Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence, which greatly influenced the development of Islamic thought during that era.

In the 13th century, the name GHAFOOR gained prominence in the Middle East, particularly in regions like Syria and Egypt. During this period, several individuals with this surname held prestigious positions in the courts of various Muslim rulers, serving as advisors, scholars, and administrators.

Another notable figure was Imam al-Ghafoor al-Andalusi, a revered Islamic scholar and philosopher who lived in the 14th century. Born in the city of Granada, which was part of the Muslim-ruled territories in present-day Spain, he made significant contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, and ethics.

In the 16th century, the surname GHAFOOR appeared in Ottoman Empire records, where it was associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including religious scholars, poets, and military leaders. One such figure was Hafiz Ahmed al-Ghafoor, a renowned Ottoman poet whose works were widely acclaimed during his time.

As the centuries passed, the surname GHAFOOR continued to be prevalent in various regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe where Muslim communities had established themselves. It remains a prominent surname among Arabic-speaking populations today, carrying the historical significance of its origin and the virtues associated with forgiveness and compassion.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ghafoor

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

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

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

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