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

Raouf, 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 Raouf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raouf in America

Raouf is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raouf surname appeared 215 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 Raouf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raouf 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 Raouf

The surname RAOUF is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab regions. It is an Arabic name derived from the root word "ra'uf," which means "kind," "compassionate," or "merciful." The name likely emerged during the early Islamic era, when Arabic names were widely adopted across the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAOUF can be found in historical documents from the 7th century AD, during the Umayyad Caliphate. It is mentioned in records of prominent scholars and religious figures from that time period. The name gained popularity among Arab communities, particularly in regions like Egypt, Syria, and the Levant.

During the medieval period, the name RAOUF appeared in various manuscripts and records, including those documenting trade and commerce in the Mediterranean region. It was often associated with merchants, artisans, and scholars who played a significant role in the cultural and economic exchanges between the Arab world and other civilizations.

In the 13th century, RAOUF al-Din al-Raouf, a renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher from Damascus, gained recognition for his contributions to the field of logic and metaphysics. His works were widely studied and referenced by scholars across the Islamic world.

Another notable figure with the surname RAOUF was Ahmed Raouf Pasha, an Egyptian statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1924 to 1926. He played a crucial role in negotiating the abolition of the British protectorate over Egypt and establishing the country's independence.

In the 19th century, Raouf Pasha (1834-1907), an Ottoman statesman and military officer, held prominent positions in the Ottoman Empire, including the role of Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) from 1878 to 1879. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Ottoman military and administrative systems.

The surname RAOUF has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations across the Middle East and North Africa. For instance, there are villages and towns with names like Raouf, Raoufiyah, and Raoufabad, which may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or derived from the same root word.

Throughout history, the surname RAOUF has been carried by scholars, statesmen, military figures, and individuals from diverse professions and backgrounds, reflecting the widespread nature of this name in the Arab world and its longstanding presence in the region's cultural and historical narratives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raouf

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

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

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

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