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

Yaffe, 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 Yaffe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yaffe in America

Yaffe is the 29447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yaffe surname appeared 802 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 Yaffe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yaffe 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 Yaffe

The surname Yaffe originated from the Jewish communities residing in Eastern Europe. The name is believed to have originated around the 15th or 16th century. Yaffe derives from the Hebrew word "yafe," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome." This surname was likely a descriptive name given to families or individuals known for their physical appearance or charm.

Historically, the surname Yaffe has been documented in various Jewish communities across Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. One of the earliest records of the name can be traced back to Jewish community records and synagogue registries from the late medieval period. Similar spellings such as Jaffe, Joffe, and Yoffe can also be found, reflecting the transliteration of Hebrew into different alphabets and phonetics of Eastern European languages.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname is Rabbi Mordecai Yaffe (1530-1612), best known for his extensive and influential Halakhic (Jewish legal) writings, including the Levushim. Rabbi Yaffe was a significant spiritual leader and scholar in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. His work greatly influenced Jewish law and practice in Europe.

Another prominent individual is Bernard Yaffe, an English scientist born in 1918, who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. He worked extensively in academic circles during the mid-20th century and was instrumental in advancing the understanding of nuclear energy and its applications.

Miriam Yaffe, an educator and author born in 1899, is another notable person. She was known for her contributions to Jewish education in Eastern Europe and later in the United States, where she relocated during the early 20th century. Her works aimed at preserving Jewish heritage and culture through education.

Samuel Yaffe, an early 20th-century industrialist from Russia, is recognized for his involvement in the textile industry. Born in 1875, he successfully established several manufacturing ventures in both Russia and later in the United States, contributing significantly to the industrial growth during that period.

Finally, Boris Yaffe, a Russian-born writer and journalist, made significant contributions to literature and public discourse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1860, he is known for his critical essays and works that illustrated the struggles and cultural dynamics of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.

These historical references reveal the diverse contributions of individuals with the surname Yaffe across various fields, reflecting the legacy and impact of this notable surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yaffe

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

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

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

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