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

Sufian, 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 Sufian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sufian in America

Sufian is the 129047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sufian surname appeared 132 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 Sufian.

The history of the last name Sufian

The surname Sufian has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Sufi," which refers to a Muslim mystic or ascetic. The name is commonly found in countries with significant Muslim populations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Sufian can be traced back to the medieval period, when Sufism, a mystical tradition within Islam, began to gain prominence. Many families and individuals associated with the Sufi movement adopted the name Sufian as a way to signify their affiliation with this spiritual path.

One of the earliest known references to the name Sufian can be found in the writings of the renowned Sufi scholar and poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273). In his works, Rumi mentioned several Sufi masters and disciples with the surname Sufian, indicating that the name was already in use during the 13th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Sufian has been associated with various notable figures in Islamic history and literature. One such individual was Abu Bakr al-Sufian (573-634), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent figure in the early days of Islam. Another notable bearer of the surname was the Sufi poet and mystic, Ibn al-Farid al-Sufian (1181-1235), whose works have had a lasting impact on Sufi literature.

In more recent times, the surname Sufian has been carried by several influential figures, including the Lebanese-American writer and poet, Ameen Rihani (1876-1940), whose works explored themes of Arab identity and cultural renaissance. Additionally, the Palestinian scholar and diplomat, Sari Nusseibeh (born 1949), bears the surname Sufian, reflecting his family's roots in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Sufian is the Egyptian-American scholar and activist, Omid Safi (born 1969), who has contributed significantly to the study of Islamic spirituality and interfaith dialogue.

While the surname Sufian is most commonly associated with the Arabic-speaking world, it has also been adopted by individuals in other regions with significant Muslim populations, such as Central Asia and parts of South Asia. However, it is important to note that the historical records and references provided here focus primarily on the origins and early use of the surname in the Middle East and North Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sufian

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

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 Sufian 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.

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

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

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