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

Nofi, 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 Nofi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nofi in America

Nofi is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nofi surname appeared 167 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 Nofi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nofi 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 Nofi

The surname NOFI is believed to have originated from Italy, specifically in the region of Tuscany. Records dating back to the 13th century indicate that the name was derived from the Italian word "noce," which means "walnut." This suggests that the NOFI surname may have been initially associated with individuals who cultivated or traded walnuts.

One of the earliest known references to the NOFI name can be found in the archives of the Florentine Republic, where a merchant named Giovanni Nofi is mentioned in documents from the late 15th century. These documents indicate that Giovanni Nofi was a prominent figure in the city's trade guild and played a role in the export of Tuscan goods, including walnuts and other agricultural products.

In the 16th century, the NOFI surname also appears in records from the town of Siena, where a family of artisans and craftsmen bearing the name resided. One notable member of this Sienese branch was Girolamo Nofi (1520-1592), a skilled sculptor who contributed to the decorative works of several churches in the region.

As the name spread beyond its Tuscan origins, variations in spelling emerged, including Nofi, Noffi, and Noffy. In the 17th century, a branch of the NOFI family settled in the Republic of Venice, where they became involved in the city's vibrant maritime trade. One notable figure from this period was Antonio Nofi (1632-1698), a successful merchant and ship owner who established trade routes throughout the Mediterranean.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the NOFI name began to appear in various parts of Europe and the Americas, likely due to migration and the spread of Italian communities. One notable figure from this period was the Italian writer and philosopher Giuseppe Nofi (1798-1867), whose works explored themes of humanism and social reform.

In the 20th century, the NOFI surname continued to be associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. For example, Albert Nofi (1924-2020) was an American military historian and author, while Mariangela Nofi (born 1945) is an Italian actress known for her work in theater and television.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nofi

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

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

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

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