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

Ghafoori, 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 Ghafoori surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ghafoori in America

Ghafoori is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ghafoori surname appeared 217 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 Ghafoori.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ghafoori 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 Ghafoori

The surname Ghafoori originated in the Middle East, specifically from the areas that are now modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. It is an Arabic name that can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic conquests of the region.

Ghafoori is derived from the Arabic word "Ghafoor," which means "forgiving" or "merciful." It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who exhibited qualities of forgiveness and compassion, or perhaps to those who had been forgiven for some transgression.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ghafoori can be found in medieval Persian manuscripts and chronicles, where it was often used as a surname or honorific title for scholars, religious leaders, and members of the nobility. One notable example is the 10th-century Persian poet and scholar, Abu'l-Fadl Ghafoori, who was renowned for his contributions to the field of literature.

During the Seljuk Empire period (11th-12th centuries), the name Ghafoori gained prominence among the ruling elite and military commanders. Notable figures from this era include Ghafoori Beg, a governor of Nishapur in modern-day Iran, and Ghafoori Khan, a celebrated military leader who served under the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan.

In the 13th century, the name Ghafoori appears in the records of the Ilkhanate, a Mongol-ruled dynasty that controlled much of the Middle East and Central Asia. One prominent figure from this period was Ghafoori al-Tabrizi, a renowned scholar and physician who served as the chief physician to the Ilkhan ruler, Hulagu Khan.

As the centuries passed, the Ghafoori name spread across various regions of the Middle East and Central Asia, with different branches and lineages emerging in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of present-day Pakistan. Notable individuals with the surname Ghafoori include:

1. Mirza Mohammad Khan Ghafoori (1789-1849), an Iranian military commander and governor during the Qajar dynasty.
2. Abdul Samad Ghafoori (1904-1979), an Afghan poet and writer who played a significant role in the development of modern Afghan literature.
3. Farid Ghafoori (1937-2022), an Iranian actor and director who appeared in numerous acclaimed films and television shows.
4. Maulana Abdul Qadir Ghafoori (1916-1995), a prominent Islamic scholar and religious leader from Afghanistan.
5. Fatima Ghafoori (born 1983), an Afghan-American author and activist known for her work on women's rights and social justice issues.

While the Ghafoori name has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Europe and North America, due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and connection to the region's rich cultural heritage remain deeply ingrained in its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ghafoori

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

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

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

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