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

Naftali, 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 Naftali surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Naftali in America

Naftali is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Naftali surname appeared 154 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 Naftali.

We can also compare 2010 data for Naftali 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 Naftali

The surname Naftali originates from the Hebrew language and has its roots in ancient Israel. It is believed to derive from the biblical name Naphtali, which refers to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son of the same name. The name Naphtali itself means "my struggle" or "wrestle" in Hebrew.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Naftali can be traced back to the Middle Ages, particularly in Jewish communities across Europe and the Middle East. During this period, many Jewish families adopted surnames based on their ancestral tribes, biblical figures, or places of origin.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals named Naftali in various medieval Hebrew manuscripts and documents. One notable example is Rabbi Moshe ben Naftali, a prominent scholar and liturgical poet who lived in Spain in the 13th century.

As Jews dispersed throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region, the surname Naftali spread to different countries and regions. In some areas, the name underwent minor spelling variations, such as Naftalin or Naftolin, reflecting local linguistic influences.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Naftali was Rabbi Shlomo ben Naftali, a renowned Talmudic scholar who lived in Spain in the 14th century. He was widely respected for his contributions to Jewish law and commentaries on the Talmud.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Hirsch Naftali lived in Prague, where he was a respected member of the Jewish community and a successful businessman.

Another notable individual with the surname Naftali was Rabbi Yitzchak Naftali, a 17th-century Italian Talmudic scholar and kabbalist. He authored several influential works on Jewish mysticism and philosophy.

During the 18th century, the surname Naftali was also found in various parts of Eastern Europe, including Poland and Russia. One notable bearer of the name was Rabbi Naftali Hertz Weisel, a prominent figure in the Polish Jewish community and a respected scholar of the Torah.

In the 19th century, individuals named Naftali played significant roles in various fields. For example, Aron Naftali was a renowned Israeli painter and sculptor who contributed greatly to the development of modern Israeli art.

Throughout history, the surname Naftali has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to Jewish culture, scholarship, and religious life. While not as widespread as some other Jewish surnames, it remains a testament to the rich heritage and ancestry of those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Naftali

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

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

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

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