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

Kalaf, 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 Kalaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalaf in America

Kalaf is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalaf surname appeared 188 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 Kalaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kalaf 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 Kalaf

The surname KALAF originated in the Middle East, likely in the region of modern-day Iran or Iraq. Its roots can be traced back to the Arabic word "khalaf," meaning "successor" or "descendant." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who were seen as heirs or successors to a family lineage or position of importance.

The earliest recorded instances of the KALAF surname date back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic caliphates. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name were Arab or Persian individuals who held positions of authority or influence within the caliphate's administrative or military ranks.

In the 9th century, a scholar named Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, also known as Rhazes or Kalaf, made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy. Born in 865 CE in the city of Ray (now in modern-day Iran), he is renowned for his comprehensive medical treatise, "Al-Hawi," which remained a standard reference work for centuries.

Another notable figure with the KALAF surname was Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Umar al-Zamakhshari al-Khwarizmi, a renowned Persian scholar and linguist who lived in the 11th century. Born in 1075 CE in the city of Khwarezm (now in modern-day Uzbekistan), he is best known for his work on Arabic grammar and his influential Qur'anic exegesis, "Al-Kashshaf."

In the 12th century, a Persian poet and mystic named Farid al-Din Attar, whose full name was Abu Hamid bin Abu Bakr Ibrahim, was also known by the surname KALAF. Born in Nishapur (now in modern-day Iran) around 1145 CE, he is regarded as one of the greatest Sufi poets and writers of his time, with works such as "The Conference of the Birds" and "The Book of Divinity."

During the 13th century, a notable figure named Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Abi al-Rijal al-Kalaf served as the chief judge (qadi al-qudat) in Baghdad under the Abbasid caliphate. He was highly respected for his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his fair administration of justice.

Over the centuries, the KALAF surname has spread beyond its Middle Eastern origins, with diaspora communities carrying the name to various parts of the world. However, its earliest roots and historical significance remain deeply tied to the cultural and intellectual traditions of the Islamic world during the medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalaf

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

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

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

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