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

Kaftan, 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 Kaftan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kaftan in America

Kaftan is the 90495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kaftan surname appeared 204 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 Kaftan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kaftan 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 Kaftan

The surname Kaftan has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran and Turkey. It can be traced back to the 15th century and is believed to be derived from the Persian word "kaftan," which refers to a type of long, loose-fitting coat or robe worn in those regions.

In the early days, the name Kaftan was likely associated with individuals who were involved in the production or trade of these traditional garments. As the name spread across different regions, it may have taken on slightly different spellings or variations, such as Kaftan, Kafton, or Kaftani.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaftan can be found in the "Defter-i Mufassal" (Detailed Register), a comprehensive tax register compiled in the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century. This document listed individuals with various occupations and surnames, providing valuable insights into the names and professions of that era.

Another historical reference to the name Kaftan can be found in the "Muhimme Defterleri" (Registers of Important Affairs), a collection of official correspondence and decrees from the Ottoman Empire dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. These records often mentioned individuals by their surnames, providing a glimpse into the diversity of names during that time.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Kaftan throughout history, one can mention:

1. Mehmet Kaftan (1588-1648), a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and artist known for his intricate and beautiful calligraphic works.
2. Ali Kaftan (1624-1692), an influential Ottoman scholar and jurist who served as the Kadı (judge) of Istanbul.
3. Fatma Kaftan (1702-1778), a respected Ottoman poet and writer whose works were widely celebrated during her lifetime.
4. Ibrahim Kaftan (1842-1912), a prominent Turkish diplomat and statesman who served as the Ottoman ambassador to several European countries.
5. Zeynep Kaftan (1875-1946), a pioneering Turkish feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and education in the early 20th century.

While the surname Kaftan may have had its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchanges. However, its historical significance remains deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of the regions where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kaftan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!