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

Shariff, 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 Shariff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shariff in America

Shariff is the 25403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shariff surname appeared 974 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 Shariff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shariff 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 Shariff

The surname Shariff has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in regions with significant Arab influence or populations. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sharif," which means noble or distinguished. This etymological root suggests that the name was likely initially associated with individuals of high social standing or noble lineage.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shariff can be traced back to the 7th century CE during the Islamic Golden Age. Historical records from this period mention individuals with the title "Sharif," which was often bestowed upon those directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad. This title carried immense prestige and recognition within the Islamic world.

During the medieval period, the name Shariff gained prominence as various Islamic dynasties and ruling families adopted it as a surname or honorific title. One notable example is the Sharifian dynasty, which ruled parts of modern-day Morocco from the 17th to the 20th century. Members of this dynasty claimed direct descent from the Prophet Muhammad and bore the surname Shariff or variations thereof.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Shariff has been present for centuries, particularly among Muslim communities. Historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled much of the region between the 16th and 19th centuries, mention individuals with the surname Shariff holding important positions within the imperial administration and nobility.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Shariff throughout history are:

1. Al-Sharif al-Radi (970-1016 CE), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from the Abbasid Caliphate.
2. Sharif al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274 CE), a renowned Persian philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer.
3. Sharif Muhammad Khan (1670-1719 CE), a prominent military commander and governor during the Mughal Empire.
4. Sharif Ali bin Husayn (1856-1931 CE), the last Sharif of Mecca and a key figure in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
5. Idries Shah (1924-1996 CE), a renowned writer, translator, and teacher of Sufism, born with the surname Shariff.

The surname Shariff has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, such as Shareef, Sharif, and Sherif, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences it has encountered across different regions and time periods. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names, including towns and villages in countries like India and Pakistan, further contributing to its geographical spread and local adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shariff

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

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

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

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