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

Hanif, 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 Hanif surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hanif in America

Hanif is the 20382nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hanif surname appeared 1,304 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 Hanif.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hanif 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 Hanif

The surname "HANIF" is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "hanif" which means "true believer" or "inclined towards the true religion." This surname has its roots in the Middle Eastern region, particularly in countries with significant Muslim populations.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic conquests and the spread of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa. The name is believed to have been adopted by individuals who embraced the Islamic faith and sought to express their devotion to the religion.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname "HANIF" was Abu Ja'far al-Hanif, a prominent Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century AD. He hailed from the city of Basra, located in present-day Iraq, and was renowned for his expertise in Arabic literature and Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable figure associated with this surname was Abu Bakr al-Hanif, a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 10th century AD. He was born in Baghdad and is credited with establishing one of the earliest Sufi orders, known as the Hanifiyyah.

During the medieval period, the surname "HANIF" gained prominence among Muslim communities across the Middle East and North Africa. It appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, reflecting the spread of Islamic culture and the movement of populations across the region.

One of the most famous individuals bearing this surname was Ibn al-Hanif, a celebrated poet and philosopher who lived in the 11th century AD. He hailed from the city of Seville, which was then part of the Andalusian region of modern-day Spain. His works were widely acclaimed and contributed significantly to the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

In the 13th century, a prominent scholar and jurist named Qutb al-Din al-Hanif left a lasting impact on Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Damascus and authored several influential works on Islamic law and theology, which were widely studied and referenced throughout the region.

Over the centuries, the surname "HANIF" has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including scholars, poets, artists, and individuals from various walks of life. While its origins can be traced back to the Arab world, the name has since spread to other regions and cultures, reflecting the global reach of Islamic civilization and the movement of populations across borders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hanif

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

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

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

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