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

Monsef, 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 Monsef surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Monsef in America

Monsef is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Monsef surname appeared 128 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 Monsef.

The history of the last name Monsef

The surname Monsef has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Persian-speaking regions of modern-day Iran and surrounding areas. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 9th or 10th century CE during the Islamic Golden Age.

Monsef is derived from the Arabic word "munassif," which means "one who is just or fair." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who were known for their sense of justice, fairness, or impartiality within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Monsef can be found in a 12th-century Persian manuscript known as the "Tarikh-e Beyhaghi," which chronicles the history of the Ghaznavid Empire. In this work, a prominent figure named Ahmad ibn Monsef is mentioned as a respected scholar and advisor to the Ghaznavid ruler, Sultan Masud III.

The name Monsef also appears in various medieval Persian literary works, such as the renowned poetry of Rumi and Hafez. In the 13th century, a prominent Persian poet and mystic named Farid al-Din Attar wrote about a figure named Monsef al-Din in his famous work, "The Conference of the Birds."

During the Safavid Dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Monsef was particularly popular among the Persian nobility and intelligentsia. One notable figure from this period was Mirza Mohammad Monsef, a renowned calligrapher and poet who served at the court of Shah Abbas I.

In the 19th century, a famous Iranian philosopher and scholar named Mirza Hasan Monsef made significant contributions to the field of Islamic philosophy. He was born in 1815 and passed away in 1890, leaving behind a wealth of scholarly works that influenced subsequent generations of thinkers.

Another notable figure with the surname Monsef was Hossein Monsef, a prominent Iranian diplomat and statesman who served as the Foreign Minister of Iran from 1935 to 1939. He played a significant role in shaping Iran's foreign policy during a critical period of the country's modern history.

Throughout its long history, the surname Monsef has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including literature, philosophy, art, and diplomacy. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, carrying with it the connotation of fairness, justice, and intellectual pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Monsef

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

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

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

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