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

Joof, 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 Joof surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Joof in America

Joof is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Joof surname appeared 159 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 Joof.

The history of the last name Joof

The surname JOOF is believed to have originated in the region of Scandinavia, specifically in Norway and Sweden, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "jöfurr," which means "chieftain" or "nobleman." This suggests that the name was initially borne by individuals of high social standing or those who held positions of authority within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JOOF can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of literary works dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The Sagas frequently mention individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Jöfur" or "Jöfursson," indicating their connection to a chieftain or noble lineage.

In the 15th century, the name JOOF appeared in the Danish Census of 1497, where it was spelled as "Jooff." This document provides valuable insight into the geographical distribution of the name during that time period, as it lists individuals from various regions of Denmark.

Notably, a prominent figure named Olav Joof was born in Norway in the late 16th century (1578-1642). He was a renowned explorer and navigator who played a significant role in mapping the Arctic regions and establishing trade routes between Norway and Greenland.

Another notable individual bearing the surname JOOF was Johan Joof (1732-1811), a Swedish military officer who served in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1808-1809. His bravery and leadership during the conflict earned him recognition and numerous military honors.

In the 19th century, the JOOF surname gained further prominence with the birth of Hans Christian Joof (1845-1920), a Danish author and playwright. His works, which often explored themes of social injustice and class struggles, had a lasting impact on Danish literature and culture.

During the same period, a Norwegian politician named Sigrid Joof (1863-1947) made her mark as one of the first female members of the Norwegian Parliament, advocating for women's rights and social reform.

The name JOOF has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Scandinavia. For instance, the town of Jöfur in Iceland is believed to have derived its name from the Old Norse word "jöfurr," further solidifying the connection between the surname and its noble origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Joof

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

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 Joof 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.

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

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

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