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

Naff, 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 Naff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naff in America

Naff is the 26492nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naff surname appeared 921 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 Naff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naff 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 Naff

The surname "NAFF" is believed to have its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "nafu," which means "navel" or "belly." This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname for someone with a protruding stomach or a distinctive physical characteristic related to their midsection.

One of the earliest documented references to the name "NAFF" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1275, where a person named Robert Naff is mentioned as a taxpayer. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332 list a John Naff, indicating the surname's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, records show the name "NAFF" being spelled in various ways, such as "Naffe," "Naffe," and "Naff." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized orthography. One notable example is William Naffe, who was born in 1543 in Oxfordshire and served as a member of the English Parliament in 1586.

The "NAFF" surname has also been associated with several place names in England. For instance, the village of Naff in Northamptonshire may have given rise to the surname, although the connection is not entirely certain. Additionally, the surname "NAFF" has been found in records from counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire, suggesting its widespread distribution across different regions.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname "NAFF." One such person was John Naff, born in 1621 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry. Another notable figure was Thomas Naff (1664-1738), a successful merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his philanthropic efforts.

Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Naff (1726-1802), who was a renowned writer and poet in her time, publishing several collections of poetry and prose. In the 19th century, James Naff (1818-1892) made a name for himself as a pioneering industrialist and entrepreneur, establishing several factories and businesses in the Midlands region of England.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the achievements of Sir William Naff (1871-1942), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during World War I and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naff

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

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

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

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