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

Phi, 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 Phi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phi in America

Phi is the 44653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phi surname appeared 481 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 Phi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phi 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 Phi

The surname Phi is believed to have originated from the Greek word "phi", which represents the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. This surname is thought to have its roots in ancient Greece, where it was likely used as a nickname or a reference to someone's association with the Greek language or culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Phi can be found in ancient Greek manuscripts dating back to the 5th century BC. These manuscripts often contained references to individuals with the surname Phi, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.

During the Byzantine Empire, which ruled over parts of the Mediterranean region from the 4th to the 15th centuries, the surname Phi gained prominence among scholars and intellectuals who studied and taught Greek literature and philosophy. Several notable figures from this era bore the surname Phi, including Ioannes Phi, a renowned philosopher and theologian who lived in the 12th century.

As the use of surnames became more widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages, the name Phi spread to various regions, particularly those with Greek cultural influences. In Italy, for instance, the surname Phi was adopted by families with ties to the Greek communities that had settled in the southern regions of the country.

One notable figure from this period was Georgios Phi, a Greek scholar and diplomat who lived in the 15th century. He served as an ambassador for the Byzantine Empire and played a crucial role in facilitating cultural exchange between the Byzantine and Italian Renaissance worlds.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Phi family settled in the Netherlands, where they became involved in the thriving printing and publishing industry. Johannes Phi, born in 1542, was a renowned printer and publisher who contributed significantly to the dissemination of knowledge during the Dutch Golden Age.

Another prominent individual with the surname Phi was Alexandros Phi, a Greek military leader who fought in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. He played a crucial role in several battles and is remembered as a hero of the Greek independence movement.

Throughout history, the surname Phi has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, politicians, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be found in various parts of the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phi

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

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

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

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