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

Sufi, 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 Sufi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sufi in America

Sufi is the 53913th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sufi surname appeared 383 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 Sufi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sufi 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 Sufi

The surname SUFI has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Sufi," which refers to a member of the Islamic mystical tradition of Sufism. The name likely emerged during the early centuries of Islamic history, around the 7th or 8th century CE, when Sufism began to take shape as a spiritual movement within Islam.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SUFI can be found in the writings of renowned Sufi mystics and scholars from the 9th and 10th centuries, such as Al-Muhasibi (781-857 CE) and Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE). These individuals were influential figures in the development of Sufi teachings and practices, and their writings often mentioned individuals who embraced the Sufi way of life.

The name SUFI gained prominence during the golden age of Islamic civilization, particularly in regions such as Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East, where Sufism flourished. Many Sufi orders and communities emerged during this time, and members of these groups likely adopted the name SUFI as a way to identify themselves with the spiritual tradition.

One notable figure in history associated with the surname SUFI was Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273 CE), a renowned Persian poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic. His influential works, such as the Masnavi and Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, have had a lasting impact on Sufism and Islamic literature.

Another prominent individual with the name SUFI was Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti (1141-1230 CE), a Sufi saint and the founder of the Chishti order, one of the most influential Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent. His teachings and spiritual legacy have had a profound impact on Sufism in South Asia.

During the medieval period, the name SUFI also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those related to Sufi literature, poetry, and spiritual teachings. For example, the works of prominent Sufi writers such as Ibn Arabi (1165-1240 CE) and Rumi often mentioned individuals with the name SUFI.

In more recent times, the name SUFI has been associated with notable figures such as Idries Shah (1924-1996), an influential writer and teacher who played a significant role in introducing Sufism to the Western world through his works on Sufi thought and practices.

Overall, the surname SUFI has a rich history rooted in the Islamic tradition of Sufism, and its bearers have made significant contributions to the spiritual, literary, and cultural heritage of the Islamic world and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sufi

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

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

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

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