2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Scaffe
A surname likely derived from the German word "Schaff" meaning shepherd or herdsman.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Scaffe. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Scaffe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Scaffe in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Scaffe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.0%. The next largest groups are Black (17.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Scaffe
The surname SCAFFE is believed to have originated in Italy, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded references to this name can be found in the archives of the city of Genoa, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought that SCAFFE may have derived from the Italian word "scaffale," which means "shelf" or "ledge," suggesting that the name's bearers may have been associated with professions related to woodworking or construction.
During the Renaissance era, the SCAFFE surname gained recognition in various parts of Italy, particularly in the northern regions. Historical records from the 15th century mention a notable figure named Giovanni SCAFFE, a skilled architect who contributed to the design of several churches and public buildings in the city of Milan. His works were highly regarded, and his name became synonymous with architectural prowess.
As the SCAFFE surname spread across Italy, it also found its way into other European countries through migration and trade. In the 16th century, a merchant named Pietro SCAFFE is documented as having established a successful trading business in the city of Marseille, France. His descendants continued to carry on the family name, contributing to its presence in the region.
In the 17th century, the SCAFFE surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Antonio SCAFFE, a renowned poet and playwright from Naples. His works were widely acclaimed, and he is remembered for his influential contributions to Italian literature. Another notable figure from this period was Maria SCAFFE, a skilled painter whose artworks adorned the walls of numerous churches and noble residences in Rome.
The 18th century saw the rise of the SCAFFE family in the field of music, with the birth of Vincenzo SCAFFE, a celebrated composer and violinist from Venice. His compositions were performed across Europe, and he is credited with influencing the development of classical music during that era.
Throughout the following centuries, the SCAFFE surname continued to be represented in various professions and fields, with individuals making their mark in areas such as academia, politics, and the arts. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to its historical significance and the contributions made by its bearers over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Scaffe
Among Census respondents with the surname Scaffe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.0%. The next largest groups are Black (17.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Scaffe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Scaffe surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.0% · 92
- Black or African American17.8% · 21
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Scaffe
Scaffe appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#136,449
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
+18 bearers (+17.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,459 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-5 bearers (-4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,062 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #136,449 | 123 | 0.04 | +18 bearers (+17.1%) | Up 8,459 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.1%) | Down 7,062 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Scaffe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #136,449 | #143,511 | -5.2% |
| Count | 123 | 118 | -4.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Scaffe bearers went from 123 to 118 (-4.1% change). The surname moved down 7,062 positions in the national ranking, going from #136,449 to #143,511.
FAQ
Scaffe surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Scaffe?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Scaffe. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Scaffe?
Scaffe ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Scaffe. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Scaffe.
Has Scaffe become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Scaffe went from 123 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #136,449 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Scaffe?
Among Census respondents with the surname Scaffe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.0%. The next largest groups are Black (17.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Scaffe in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.0% (92 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Scaffe appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (78.0%), Black (17.8%), Hispanic (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Scaffe (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Scaffe mean?
A surname likely derived from the German word "Schaff" meaning shepherd or herdsman. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Scaffe (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Scaffe?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.