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

Raif, 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 Raif surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raif in America

Raif is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raif surname appeared 113 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 Raif.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raif 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 Raif

The surname RAIF has its roots in the German and Swiss regions, with origins dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "rauf," which means "rough" or "coarse." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a rugged or robust appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAIF surname can be found in the city of Zurich, Switzerland, where a record from 1587 mentions a Johann Raif. This document provides evidence of the name's presence in the region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the surname RAIF appeared in various German records, including the Kirchenbücher (church books) of several villages in the Rhineland region. These records often contained details about births, marriages, and deaths within the local communities.

A notable figure from history bearing the RAIF surname was Hans Raif, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1580 to 1637. His works, which included religious scenes and portraiture, were highly regarded during his lifetime and can still be found in museums and collections across Europe.

Another individual of historical significance was Jakob Raif, a Swiss mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1622 to 1703. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was instrumental in the development of advanced astronomical instruments used during his time.

In the 18th century, the RAIF surname gained prominence in the region of Bavaria, Germany. One notable individual was Johann Baptist Raif, a Bavarian painter and architect who lived from 1714 to 1783. His works can be found adorning several churches and buildings throughout Bavaria.

The surname RAIF also has connections to various place names in Germany and Switzerland. For instance, the village of Raiffeisenau in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, may have derived its name from the RAIF surname or a similar variation.

Throughout its history, the RAIF surname has been associated with various professions, including artisans, scholars, and craftsmen. While not as widely distributed as some other surnames, it has left a distinct mark in the regions where it originated and continues to be carried on by families with deep roots in these areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raif

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!