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

Hafezi, 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 Hafezi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hafezi in America

Hafezi is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hafezi surname appeared 163 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 Hafezi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hafezi 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 Hafezi

The surname HAFEZI has its origins in the Persian language and culture. It first emerged in the region that is now modern-day Iran during the medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic word "hafiz," which means "protector" or "guard." It likely referred to someone who had memorized and guarded the teachings of the Quran or other sacred texts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HAFEZI name can be found in the writings of the celebrated Persian poet and philosopher, Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafez Shirazi, who lived from 1315 to 1390 CE. His literary works, particularly his masterpiece, the Divan-e Hafez, have had a profound influence on Persian literature and culture over the centuries.

During the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736 CE), the name HAFEZI gained further prominence as it was associated with scholars, religious leaders, and those who were tasked with preserving and disseminating Islamic knowledge. Historical records from this period mention several individuals bearing the HAFEZI surname, such as Mirza Mohammad Rafi' Hafezi, a renowned calligrapher and poet who lived in the 16th century.

In the 18th century, the HAFEZI name was found in various regions of Persia, including the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz. One notable figure was Mirza Mohammad Saleh Hafezi Isfahani, a prominent poet and literary figure who lived from 1724 to 1795 CE. His works were widely celebrated and influenced the development of Persian literature during that era.

As the name spread beyond its place of origin, it took on variations in spelling and pronunciation. In some regions, it was written as "Hafizi" or "Hafazy," reflecting local linguistic variations.

Another notable individual with the HAFEZI surname was Seyyed Mohammad Reza Hafezi Khorasani, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 19th century (1816-1888 CE). He was widely respected for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his interpretations of religious texts.

In more recent times, the HAFEZI name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including poets, writers, academics, and artists. Some examples include Fatemeh Hafezi, an Iranian painter and sculptor born in 1953, and Alireza Hafezi, a contemporary Iranian film director and screenwriter.

While the HAFEZI surname has its roots in the Persian culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families of Persian descent. The name continues to hold a significant cultural and historical significance, reflecting its rich heritage and association with the preservation of knowledge and literary traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hafezi

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

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

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

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