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

Skaf, 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 Skaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skaf in America

Skaf is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skaf surname appeared 194 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 Skaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skaf 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 Skaf

The surname SKAF originated from the Arabic and Levantine region, with roots dating back to the 8th century CE. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "saqf," which means "roof" or "ceiling," potentially indicating that the name's earliest bearers were associated with construction or architectural professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SKAF surname can be traced back to the 10th century, where it appeared in historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate in present-day Iraq and Syria. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Saqaf" or "Saqf," reflecting its Arabic origins.

In the 12th century, the SKAF surname gained prominence in Lebanon, particularly in the regions of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Notable figures from this era include Ahmad al-Skaf, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Tripoli, Lebanon, between 1150 and 1220 CE.

As the centuries progressed, the SKAF name spread across the Levant and parts of the Mediterranean region, with variations in spelling emerging, such as "Skaff" and "Skaf." In the 16th century, records from the Ottoman Empire mention individuals bearing the SKAF surname, indicating their presence in territories under Ottoman rule.

During the 18th century, the SKAF family established itself as a prominent clan in the town of Beit Chabeb, located in the Mount Lebanon region. One notable figure from this era was Ibrahim Skaf, a respected leader and landowner who played a significant role in local affairs between 1725 and 1795.

In the 19th century, the SKAF surname gained recognition in Egypt, with several notable individuals bearing the name. Among them was Mohamed Skaf, a renowned scholar and writer who authored several works on Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic literature between 1820 and 1890.

As the 20th century dawned, the SKAF name continued to spread globally, with individuals of this surname making significant contributions in various fields. One notable example is Elias Skaf, a Lebanese-Brazilian businessman and industrialist who served as the president of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP) from 1997 to 2004.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skaf

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

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

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

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