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

Shafa, 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 Shafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shafa in America

Shafa is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shafa surname appeared 131 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 Shafa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shafa 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 Shafa

The surname "SHAFA" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of modern-day Iran and Iraq. Its roots can be traced back to the ancient Persian language, where it may have been derived from the word "shafa," meaning "healing" or "cure."

During the medieval period, the name SHAFA was found in various historical records and manuscripts from the region, indicating its presence among the population. One notable reference comes from a 12th-century Persian manuscript, which mentions a scholar and physician named Ahmad al-Shafa.

The earliest recorded instances of the SHAFA surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various administrative documents and tax records from the Persian Empires. At that time, the name was often associated with individuals involved in the medical or healing professions.

In the 15th century, a famous Persian poet and mystic named Shams al-Din Shafa lived in the city of Isfahan. His works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and divine love, have left a lasting impact on Persian literature.

During the 16th century, the SHAFA surname was also found in parts of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Turkey and Syria. One notable figure from this era was Mustafa Shafa, a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and artist who lived in Istanbul in the late 16th century.

In the 19th century, a prominent scholar and historian named Abdul-Hadi al-Shafa was born in Baghdad, Iraq. He wrote extensively on the history and culture of the region, and his works are still widely cited by academics today.

Another notable figure with the SHAFA surname was Fatima Shafa, a pioneering Iranian activist and educator who lived in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and education in Iran.

Throughout history, the SHAFA surname has been found in various regions of the Middle East, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences of the area. While its precise origins remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, the name continues to carry a connection to the rich heritage and traditions of the Persian world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shafa

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

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

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

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