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

Nofal, 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 Nofal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nofal in America

Nofal is the 47107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nofal surname appeared 451 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 Nofal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nofal 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 Nofal

The surname NOFAL is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of the Arabian Peninsula. It is an Arabic name that can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early days of the Islamic civilization.

The name NOFAL is derived from the Arabic word "nafal," which means "to rise" or "to elevate." It is thought to have been initially adopted as a descriptive surname, possibly referring to an individual's upward social mobility or elevated status within the community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NOFAL can be found in the writings of renowned Arab historians and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries. These historical accounts mention individuals bearing this surname, suggesting its prevalence during the early Islamic era.

During the medieval period, the name NOFAL appeared in various administrative and legal documents in the region, indicating its continued use among Arab populations. Some historians speculate that the name may have been associated with influential families or clans in certain areas of the Arabian Peninsula.

Notable individuals with the surname NOFAL include:

1. Al-Nofal ibn Al-Qahtani (d. 742 CE), an Arab military commander and governor who played a significant role in the early Islamic conquests.
2. Nofal al-Kindi (c. 750 CE - 830 CE), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
3. Ibn Nofal al-Andalusi (c. 1035 CE - 1088 CE), a Muslim scholar and poet from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain).
4. Nofal al-Dimashqi (c. 1150 CE - 1223 CE), a Syrian historian and author who wrote extensively about the Crusades and the Ayyubid dynasty.
5. Nofal ibn Salih al-Makki (c. 1300 CE - 1375 CE), a Meccan scholar and jurist known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence.

It is worth noting that the name NOFAL has also been associated with certain place names and geographical locations in the Middle East, reflecting the historical movement and settlement patterns of individuals and families bearing this surname.

While the surname NOFAL has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread to other regions and cultures due to migration, trade, and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the rich heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nofal

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

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

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

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