Kfoury last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kfoury

An Arabic surname meaning "of Kfour", referring to a town or village in Lebanon.

Kfoury, 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 Kfoury surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kfoury in America

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

The Kfoury 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 Kfoury.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kfoury 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 90495 99725 -9.70%
Count 204 168 19.35%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name Kfoury

The surname Kfoury is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient lands of the Levant region, encompassing modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and parts of Jordan. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Kfoury is derived from the Arabic word "kafr," meaning "village" or "small town." This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, indicating the place of residence or origin of the initial bearer. It is possible that the name was associated with a specific village or town in the region, although the precise location remains uncertain.

Historical records from the region during the medieval period are scarce, making it challenging to pinpoint the earliest documented instances of the name Kfoury. However, some scholars believe that variations of the name may have appeared in ancient manuscripts or inscriptions, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Kfoury was Ibrahim Kfoury, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 1525, Ibrahim was highly respected for his contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy.

Another notable figure was Youssef Kfoury, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the 18th century. Youssef was renowned for his extensive trade networks, which stretched from the Levant region to Europe and beyond. His business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit played a significant role in the economic development of the region.

In the 19th century, Khalil Kfoury (1825-1892) emerged as a prominent figure in the literary and intellectual circles of the Levant. A prolific writer and poet, Khalil's works explored themes of cultural identity, social reform, and the importance of education. His contributions to the Arabic literary renaissance of the time were widely celebrated.

The 20th century saw the rise of Michel Kfoury (1910-1985), a renowned architect and urban planner. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Michel was instrumental in shaping the modern architectural landscape of the city, designing numerous iconic buildings and urban developments that continue to stand as testaments to his vision and creativity.

In more recent times, Elias Kfoury (1957-present) has gained recognition as a respected academic and author. A professor of philosophy at the Lebanese American University, Elias has written extensively on topics ranging from political theory to ethics and social justice, contributing to the intellectual discourse of the region and beyond.

While the surname Kfoury has its roots in the ancient lands of the Levant, it has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families seeking new opportunities and horizons. The name continues to be a source of pride and cultural identity for those who bear it, serving as a reminder of the rich heritage and resilience of the people of the Levant region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kfoury

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

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 Kfoury was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.14% 190
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.92% 8
Hispanic Origin 2.45% 5

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 Kfoury has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.14% 92.86% 0.30%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 3.92% 5.36% -31.03%
Hispanic 2.45% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Kfoury last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 27, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kfoury-surname-popularity/.

"Kfoury last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kfoury-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 May, 2025

Kfoury last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kfoury-surname-popularity/.

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