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

Raffi, 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 Raffi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raffi in America

Raffi is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raffi surname appeared 144 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 Raffi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raffi 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 Raffi

The surname Raffi is of Armenian origin and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Armenian word "raff," which means "art" or "skill." The name likely originated in the historical regions of Armenia, such as the provinces of Vaspurakan and Syunik.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Raffi can be found in a 13th-century Armenian manuscript that mentions a scribe named Raffi from the village of Khtskonk. This village was located in the Vayots Dzor region of ancient Armenia, known for its rich cultural heritage.

In the 15th century, a prominent Armenian scholar and theologian named Raffi Vardapet (1444-1522) made significant contributions to the field of philosophy and theology. He authored several influential works, including commentaries on the Bible and theological treatises.

During the 16th century, the name Raffi gained prominence in the city of Artsakh, now part of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Historical records mention a noble family known as the Raffi-Khans, who played a crucial role in the region's governance and cultural affairs.

In the 19th century, the Raffi surname became associated with the Armenian literary renaissance. Raffi (1835-1888), born Hakob Melik Hakobian, was a renowned Armenian novelist and prominent figure in the national awakening movement. His works, such as "The Fool" and "Khent," portrayed the struggles and aspirations of the Armenian people.

Another notable figure was Aram Raffi Yeritsian (1847-1900), an Armenian writer and political activist. He played a significant role in the Armenian national liberation movement and authored several influential works, including the novel "Khayam."

Throughout history, the surname Raffi has been associated with various place names and variations in spelling. For example, the village of Raffiabad in the Ahar region of Iran is believed to be named after an Armenian family with the surname Raffi who settled there.

While the surname Raffi is primarily associated with Armenia and its diaspora, it has also been adopted by individuals of other backgrounds, reflecting the cultural exchange and migration patterns throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raffi

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

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

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

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