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

Saafi, 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 Saafi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saafi in America

Saafi is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saafi surname appeared 121 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 Saafi.

The history of the last name Saafi

The surname SAAFI is believed to have originated in North Africa, specifically in the region of present-day Morocco and Algeria. It dates back to the 7th century, when the Berber tribes of the region adopted surnames after the Arab conquest and the spread of Islam.

SAAFI is derived from the Arabic word "safi," which means "pure" or "sincere." It is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname or a title to individuals who were known for their purity of character or sincerity in their actions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name SAAFI can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and records from the region. One notable example is the 12th-century philosopher and scholar, Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Saafi, who was born in Fez, Morocco, in 1149 and died in 1204.

During the Middle Ages, the SAAFI surname also appeared in various North African cities and regions, such as Marrakesh, Tlemcen, and Tunis. It is possible that the name was associated with specific places or settlements, as was common with many surnames during that time.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Ibn al-Saafi was a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Almeria, Spain. He contributed significantly to the study of spherical geometry and the development of astronomical instruments.

Another notable individual with the SAAFI surname was Ahmad al-Saafi, a 16th-century poet and writer from Fez, Morocco. His poetic works were widely celebrated and influenced the literary traditions of the region.

In the 19th century, a prominent scholar and Islamic reformer named Muhammad al-Saafi played a significant role in the intellectual and religious movements of the time. He was born in Tlemcen, Algeria, in 1821 and died in 1890.

As the SAAFI surname spread throughout North Africa and beyond, it has been associated with various notable individuals in different fields, including scholars, writers, artists, and religious figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saafi

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

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 Saafi 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.

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

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

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