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

Latifi, 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 Latifi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Latifi in America

Latifi is the 46811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Latifi surname appeared 454 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 Latifi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Latifi 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 Latifi

The surname Latifi is believed to have originated in Iran, tracing its roots back to the Persian language. Its earliest known usage dates back to the 8th century AD, during the Islamic Golden Age, when Persian culture flourished across the Middle East and Central Asia.

Latifi is derived from the Persian word "latif," which means "subtle," "delicate," or "refined." It was likely used initially as a descriptive nickname or a title, referring to someone with refined manners, eloquence, or artistic talents. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname.

In the 11th century, a Persian poet and scholar named Abu'l-Qasim Firdausi mentioned a person named Latifi in his epic poem, the Shahnameh, which is considered one of the world's greatest literary masterpieces. This early reference suggests that the name was already in use during the late 10th or early 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Latifi was Muhammed ibn Ahmad Latifi, a Persian poet and scholar who lived in the 13th century. His work, "Latai'f al-Tawa'if," a collection of anecdotes and witticisms, is considered a significant contribution to Persian literature.

Another notable figure was Mirza Abul Hassan Khan Ilchi Latifi, a 17th-century Persian diplomat and ambassador who played a crucial role in the diplomatic relations between Persia and Russia during the reign of Shah Abbas I.

In the 19th century, Mirza Aqa Khan Nuri Latifi, a prominent Iranian statesman and reformer, was instrumental in the modernization efforts of the Qajar dynasty. He served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1858 to 1859.

Latifi is also the surname of several contemporary Iranian figures, including Simin Daneshvar Latifi (1921-2012), a celebrated novelist and influential figure in Persian literature, and Masoud Latifi (born 1983), an Iranian professional football player.

While the surname Latifi is primarily associated with Iran and the Persian cultural sphere, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange, particularly in regions with significant Iranian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Latifi

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

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

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

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