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

Raaf, 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 Raaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raaf in America

Raaf is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raaf surname appeared 226 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 Raaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raaf 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 Raaf

The surname RAAF is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch word "raaf," which means "raven" or "crow," suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or location associated with these birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAAF surname can be found in the Dutch archives of the city of Amsterdam, where a certain Pieter Jansz RAAF was mentioned in a legal document dated 1587. This document pertains to a property dispute, indicating that the RAAF family had already established a presence in the city at that time.

During the 17th century, the name RAAF appeared in various historical records across the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Jan RAAF, a merchant and ship owner from Rotterdam, who lived from 1638 to 1702.

As Dutch settlers began to explore and colonize other parts of the world, the RAAF surname traveled with them. In the late 17th century, a family by the name of RAAF settled in the Dutch colony of Suriname in South America. One of their descendants, Willem RAAF, born in 1725, became a prominent plantation owner and was recorded in the colonial archives.

Another notable figure with the RAAF surname is Adriaan RAAF, a Dutch military officer who served in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) during the 18th century. Born in 1718 in The Hague, he participated in several campaigns against local rulers and was instrumental in expanding Dutch influence in the region.

In the 19th century, the RAAF surname made its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. One example is Karl RAAF, a German-born artist and engraver who lived from 1819 to 1892. His works were exhibited in various galleries across Europe and are still celebrated today for their intricate details and artistic merit.

The RAAF surname has also been associated with notable individuals in more recent times, such as the Australian aviation pioneer Sir Harry RAAF (1893-1976), who played a pivotal role in the development of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

While the RAAF surname is relatively uncommon, it has left its mark on history, spanning continents and centuries, and is a testament to the diverse origins and journeys of families across the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raaf

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

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

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

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