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

Safron, 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 Safron surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Safron in America

Safron is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Safron surname appeared 244 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 Safron.

We can also compare 2010 data for Safron 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 Safron

The surname Safron is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, likely in France or England. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "safran," meaning saffron, a spice obtained from the crocus flower. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person involved in the cultivation or trade of saffron.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Safron dates back to the 13th century, when a William Safron was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire, England, in 1275. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer. Around the same time, a Richard Safron was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Leicestershire in 1292.

The Safron surname has also been linked to various place names, particularly in England. For instance, there is a village called Saffron Walden in Essex, which may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the name. Similarly, the town of Saffron Hill in London could have contributed to the name's popularity in the area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Safron. One such figure was Sir Thomas Safron (1540-1592), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was John Safron (1662-1733), a prominent English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded bearers of the Safron name was William Safron, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Later, Samuel Safron (1734-1807) was a notable American politician and jurist who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and as a judge in New Jersey.

Additionally, the Safron surname has been associated with various occupations and trades throughout history. For example, Thomas Safron (1768-1843) was a successful English bookbinder and publisher, while James Safron (1822-1890) was a renowned British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

Overall, the surname Safron has a rich history spanning multiple centuries and regions, with its origins likely rooted in the spice trade and cultivation of saffron. While its spelling and pronunciation may have evolved over time, the name continues to be associated with various notable individuals and their contributions across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Safron

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

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

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

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