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

Rifkin, 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 Rifkin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rifkin in America

Rifkin is the 19390th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rifkin surname appeared 1,394 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 Rifkin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rifkin 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 Rifkin

The surname Rifkin is of Russian Jewish origin, derived from the Hebrew name Reuven, which means "behold, a son." It is believed to have originated in the late 18th or early 19th century among Jewish communities in Russia and Eastern Europe.

One of the earliest known records of the name Rifkin can be found in the Russian Census of 1897, which listed several families with this surname living in various towns and cities across the Russian Empire. The name was likely adopted as a way to distinguish oneself and establish a family identity during a period of increased assimilation and urbanization.

In the early 20th century, many Rifkin families immigrated to the United States, fleeing persecution and seeking better opportunities. The name can be found in passenger lists and immigration records from this time, often with variations in spelling such as Rifkind or Rifken.

The name Rifkin has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded Rifkins was Chaim Rifkin, a Russian-born writer and journalist who lived from 1876 to 1957. He was known for his works on Jewish culture and history.

Another prominent figure was Benjamin Rifkin, an American lawyer and civil rights activist born in 1920. He played a significant role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States and was involved in several landmark legal cases.

In the world of business, Joseph Rifkin (1922-2011) was a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Rifkin Textile Corporation in New York City.

The name Rifkin has also been associated with the arts and entertainment industry. Jessica Rifkin (born 1976) is an American actress known for her roles in various television shows and films.

Lastly, Michael Rifkin (born 1944) is a renowned American economist and author who has written extensively on issues related to globalization and technological change.

While the Rifkin surname may have originated from a specific geographic region, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Jewish culture and identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rifkin

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

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

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

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