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

Jaffee, 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 Jaffee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jaffee in America

Jaffee is the 34314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jaffee surname appeared 661 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 Jaffee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jaffee 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 Jaffee

The surname JAFFEE is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant of the German name Jaffe, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yaffe, meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the JAFFEE surname can be found in the German town of Jülich, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the 14th century, a family bearing this name was documented in local records, with members mentioned as landowners and merchants in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the JAFFEE surname spread across various parts of Germany, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. One such figure was Johann Jaffee (1570-1642), a Protestant theologian and author who published several works on religious doctrine and scriptural interpretation.

As the JAFFEE name gained prominence, it also found its way into the annals of European history. In the 18th century, a German military officer named Friedrich Jaffee (1712-1789) served with distinction in the Prussian Army, participating in several campaigns during the Seven Years' War.

The 19th century saw the JAFFEE surname cross international borders, with families bearing this name settling in various parts of Europe and beyond. One notable example is the French artist and engraver Charles Jaffee (1821-1898), whose works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and can still be found in numerous art collections today.

Another prominent figure with the JAFFEE surname was the Russian-born American author and playwright Samson Jaffee (1875-1949), whose plays and novels explored themes of immigration, cultural identity, and the human experience. His works were instrumental in shaping the literary landscape of his time and continue to be studied and performed to this day.

Throughout its history, the JAFFEE surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience and cultural heritage. While its origins may be rooted in the past, the name continues to resonate in the present, a testament to the enduring legacy of those who have borne it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jaffee

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

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

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

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