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

Safar, 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 Safar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Safar in America

Safar is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Safar surname appeared 764 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 Safar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Safar 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 Safar

The surname "SAFAR" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab regions. Its roots can be traced back to the Arabic word "safar," which means "journey" or "travel." The name likely emerged during the medieval period when Arab traders and travelers embarked on long journeys across the vast deserts and trade routes of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SAFAR" can be found in historic manuscripts and chronicles from the 9th and 10th centuries, documenting the travels and adventures of Arab merchants and explorers. These accounts often mentioned individuals with the surname "SAFAR," suggesting their association with the nomadic lifestyle and the spirit of exploration.

The name "SAFAR" has also been linked to certain place names in the Middle East, such as the city of Safar in present-day Iran. It is possible that the surname originated from individuals who hailed from this region or had ancestors who lived there.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "SAFAR." One such figure was Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), a renowned Moroccan explorer and traveler who journeyed across vast stretches of the ancient world, from West Africa to China. His detailed accounts of his travels, known as the "Rihla" (Journey), have become a valuable source of information about the cultures and societies he encountered during his remarkable expeditions.

Another prominent bearer of the surname was Ali Ibn Abi Safar (c. 890-976), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. His contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy were significant, and he is credited with developing new methods for calculating the positions of celestial bodies.

In the literary realm, the Egyptian writer and poet Ahmed Safar (1909-1978) left an indelible mark on modern Arabic literature. His works, which often explored themes of identity, social justice, and the human condition, earned him widespread acclaim and recognition throughout the Arab world.

The name "SAFAR" has also been associated with individuals in the field of Islamic scholarship and jurisprudence. One such figure was Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Safar (1705-1786), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Morocco, who was renowned for his expertise in Islamic law and theology.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "SAFAR" has retained its connection to the ideals of exploration, travel, and the pursuit of knowledge. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who embody the spirit of adventure and intellectual curiosity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Safar

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

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

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

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