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

Sarraf, 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 Sarraf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sarraf in America

Sarraf is the 48530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sarraf surname appeared 435 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 Sarraf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sarraf 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 Sarraf

The surname "Sarraf" originates from the Arabic word "sarrāf," which means "money changer" or "banker." It traces its roots back to the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in regions with significant Arabic cultural influence.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and chronicles, often referring to individuals involved in financial transactions or banking activities. One notable mention is in the 12th-century work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), where a certain Sarraf al-Kufi is referenced as a prominent money changer in Kufa, Iraq.

During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century, the Sarraf family name gained prominence as many individuals from this lineage became influential in finance and trade. The name's association with banking and commerce likely stems from this period.

The Sarraf surname has also been linked to certain place names in the Middle East and North Africa. For instance, the village of Sarraf in modern-day Syria is believed to have derived its name from the occupation of its residents as money changers or bankers.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Sarraf surname. One example is Abu Bakr al-Sarraf (born around 800 CE), a renowned Arabic poet and scholar from Baghdad. Another is Jalal al-Din al-Sarraf (1234–1292), a Syrian Sufi scholar and writer who authored works on Islamic mysticism.

In the 19th century, Abd al-Qadir al-Sarraf (1819–1892) was a prominent Syrian scholar and reformer who advocated for modernization and educational reforms in the Ottoman Empire. Likewise, Mustafa Nuri Pasha al-Sarraf (1825–1900) was an influential Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the Ottoman Empire.

The Sarraf name has also been associated with prominent figures in more recent history, such as Salim Sarraf (1900–1965), a renowned Iraqi artist and sculptor known for his contributions to the modern art movement in the Middle East.

While the surname's origin can be traced back to the Middle East and North Africa, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the Arabic language and the historical significance of the money changing and banking professions in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sarraf

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

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

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

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