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

Yaffee, 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 Yaffee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yaffee in America

Yaffee is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yaffee surname appeared 138 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 Yaffee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yaffee 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 Yaffee

The surname Yaffee is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within the Jewish community of the Russian Empire and Poland. The name is a variant of the Hebrew word "yafe", meaning "beautiful". This surname often signified a notable family, respected for their attributes or appearances.

Yaffee, along with its variants like Yoffe and Jaffe, has been found in historical documents dating back to at least the 16th century. The oldest references often come from records maintained by Jewish communities in cities such as Vilnius and Warsaw. These records, designed to keep track of community members for taxation or census purposes, provide valuable insight into the geographical spread and social standing of the name.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname is Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe (c. 1530-1612), a renowned 16th-century Talmudic scholar and author known for his work "Levush Malkhut" (Royal Garments), a commentary on Jewish law and customs. Mordechai Yoffe's contributions to Jewish literature and thought have left a lasting legacy, interweaving the Yoffe name into the fabric of scholarly religious study.

Another notable person bearing this surname was Aaron Yaffee, a merchant from the city of Pinsk in the 18th century. Historical economic documents reveal his significant involvement in trade and community leadership, demonstrating the diverse roles carried by individuals with this surname.

In the 19th century, Jacob Yaffee made a name as a philanthropist in Odessa, contributing to the establishment of schools and hospitals. This benevolent figure highlighted the name's association with generosity and community support.

The surname also appears in 20th-century records with individuals like Chaim Yoffe, an artist born in 1895 in Lithuania, who played a significant role in developing Jewish art and culture during the early 1900s. His works often depicted traditional Jewish life, capturing the spirit and hardships of his community.

Lastly, during World War II, Leah Yaffee, a nurse from Bialystok, became known for her bravery and dedication in providing medical care during the most turbulent times, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Yaffee name.

The surname Yaffee weaves through centuries of Jewish history, carrying connotations of beauty, scholarship, commerce, philanthropy, and courage. Through historical records and notable individuals, the name has been etched into various aspects of cultural and social history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yaffee

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

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

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

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