Safaei last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Safaei

An Iranian surname likely derived from the term "Safa" meaning purity or clarity.

Safaei, 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 Safaei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Safaei in America

Safaei is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Safaei surname appeared 105 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 Safaei.

The history of the last name Safaei

The surname SAFAEI has its origins in Iran and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Persian word "safa," which means purity, and the suffix "-i," indicating belonging or origin. The name likely originated in the regions around Isfahan, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and literary traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAFAEI name appears in a manuscript from the Safavid dynasty, dated 1567. This document mentions a scribe named Mohammad SAFAEI, who was employed at the royal court in Isfahan. During this period, the SAFAEI name was associated with scholars, poets, and literary figures in the region.

The SAFAEI surname gained prominence in the 17th century when a prominent family with this name established themselves in the city of Shiraz. They were known for their contributions to the arts, particularly poetry and calligraphy. One notable member of this family was Mirza Reza SAFAEI (1612-1678), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served at the court of Shah Abbas II.

In the 18th century, the SAFAEI name appeared in various records from the Qajar dynasty. One notable figure was Haji Mirza Mohammad Hassan SAFAEI (1741-1813), a merchant and diplomat who played a significant role in establishing trade relations between Iran and Russia.

During the 19th century, the SAFAEI name was associated with several prominent scholars and religious figures. One such individual was Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Ali SAFAEI (1823-1891), a renowned Shia scholar and writer who authored numerous works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology.

Another notable figure was Mirza Abolqasem SAFAEI (1853-1920), a renowned calligrapher and painter who was recognized as a master of the Nasta'liq script. His works are displayed in museums and private collections around the world.

In the 20th century, the SAFAEI name continued to be associated with intellectuals and artists. One prominent figure was Sadeq SAFAEI (1920-1999), a renowned Iranian poet and literary critic who played a significant role in the development of modern Persian literature.

It is worth noting that while the SAFAEI name has its origins in Iran, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Persian cultural influence or Iranian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Safaei

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

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 Safaei was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 86.67% 91
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 10.48% 11
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Safaei last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/safaei-surname-popularity/.

"Safaei last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/safaei-surname-popularity/. Accessed 18 May, 2025

Safaei last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/safaei-surname-popularity/.

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