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

Yaffa, 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 Yaffa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yaffa in America

Yaffa is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yaffa surname appeared 121 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 Yaffa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yaffa 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 Yaffa

The surname Yaffa is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the regions around ancient Jaffa, now part of modern-day Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel. The name has Hebrew and Semitic roots, deriving from the Hebrew word "Yafeh" or "Yaffa," meaning "beautiful" or "lovely." This etymology is a testament to the descriptive names prevalent in Jewish tradition and amongst neighboring civilizations who adopted similar naming practices.

Historical records show the use of the name Yaffa in various forms dating back several centuries. The name is prominently linked to the ancient port city of Jaffa, one of the oldest harbor cities in the world, which has been inhabited for over 7,500 years. Manuscripts and records from the medieval period mention individuals with the surname Yaffa, particularly in Jewish communities around the Mediterranean basin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Yaffa surname is Moses ben Isaac Yaffa, a renowned rabbi and scholar born in the early 17th century in Poland. His works and teachings are still referenced in Judaic studies today. Another notable figure is Aharon Yaffa, a scribe from the 18th century who lived in Italy and contributed to the preservation and transcription of Jewish texts.

Miriam Yaffa, born in 1764, was a notable Jewish poet in Ottoman Turkey, recognized for her lyrical compositions and contributions to Sephardic literature. Her works provided an essential insight into the cultural and social milieu of her community during that period.

In the late 19th century, Jacob Yaffa emerged as an influential figure in the Zionist movement, advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland. Jacob was born in 1868 in Eastern Europe and was active in organizing and mobilizing Jewish communities for the cause of Zionism until his death in 1931.

The name Yaffa also appeared among early 20th-century immigrants to the United States. Samuel Yaffa, born in 1891 in Russia, became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in New York. His contributions to various Jewish charities and his involvement in communal activities highlighted the adaptive and resilient spirit of emigrants who bore this name.

These examples illustrate the surname's historical journey from ancient times through various regions and cultures, showcasing the resilience and beauty implied in its meaning.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yaffa

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

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

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

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