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

Nafso, 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 Nafso surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nafso in America

Nafso is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nafso surname appeared 127 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 Nafso.

The history of the last name Nafso

The surname NAFSO has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire, where it first appeared in written records during the late 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "nafu" meaning "navel" and "sco" meaning "wood," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a wooded area with a distinctive landform resembling a navel.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the NAFSO name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landholders in England. This document includes a reference to a Richard de Nafso, who held lands in the village of Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor, near the city of York.

By the 14th century, the NAFSO name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings such as Nafsoe, Naffsoe, and Navesho appearing in parish records and legal documents. One notable figure from this period was John Nafso, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who was appointed as a customs officer by King Edward III in 1341.

In the 15th century, the NAFSO name appears to have gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was associated with the village of Naunton, formerly known as Naventon or Nafenton. A prominent member of the family during this time was William Nafso, who served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Cirencester in 1472.

During the Tudor and Stuart periods, the NAFSO name continued to be found across England, with several individuals achieving notable positions. In 1556, Thomas Nafso was appointed as the Archbishop of York, a position he held until his death in 1567. Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Nafso, a military commander who fought in the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles I in 1642.

As the centuries progressed, the NAFSO name spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, with individuals bearing this surname contributing to various fields, including literature, academia, and politics. One notable example is the Scottish writer and poet, James Nafso (1785-1859), whose works explored themes of nature and rural life.

While the NAFSO surname may not be as common as some others, it has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its origins in the Yorkshire countryside of medieval England. From humble beginnings as a descriptive name, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark on various aspects of British society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nafso

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

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

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

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