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

Yousaf, 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 Yousaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yousaf in America

Yousaf is the 35764th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yousaf surname appeared 628 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 Yousaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yousaf 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 Yousaf

The surname Yousaf has its origins in the Middle East and South Asia, particularly among Arabic-speaking and Urdu-speaking populations. The name Yousaf stems from the Arabic personal name Yusuf, transliterated into Yousaf in several regions. The name Yusuf itself is of Semitic origin, deriving from the Hebrew name Yosef, commonly recognized in the biblical tradition as Joseph. It means "God increases" or "God will add".

In the Islamic tradition, Yusuf holds significant importance as it is associated with Prophet Yusuf, a revered figure in the Quran, who is analogous to the biblical Joseph. His story, known for its themes of betrayal and forgiveness, sustains the legacy and popularization of the name within Muslim communities. Consequently, the surname Yousaf became widespread, embodying the spiritual and cultural significance attached to the prophet's narrative.

The name Yousaf can be historically found in various regions where Islam had a deep cultural impact, such as Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. Old manuscripts from medieval Arabic and Persian literature sometimes mention the name Yousaf in various capacities, either as patronymics or in other forms. One historical text from the late 14th century, known as "Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi" by Ziauddin Barani, discusses individuals bearing this surname, highlighting its use among the Persian elite.

One notable figure bearing the surname was Syed Yousaf Shah, a scholar and Sufi mystic of the Mughal era, born around 1542 and died 1616. He was known for his contributions to the cultural and spiritual life in the Punjab region. Another significant figure is Muhammad Yousaf Ali Khan, a high-ranking officer in the Mughal military during the reign of Emperor Akbar, noted in records from the 16th century.

In the 19th century, Yousaf Ali Karki from Afghanistan was a prominent tribal leader involved in the resistance against British colonial expansion. He was born in 1820 and died in 1887, remembered for his efforts to maintain the autonomy of his people. Similarly, notable in the historical chess community was Mirza Yousaf Beg, an accomplished chess player and scholar in 19th century Iran. His exact birth and death dates are relatively obscure, but his contributions are noted in various Persian records from around 1860.

One more significant individual is Dr. Ziauddin Yousafzai (born in the early 20th century), a renowned Pakistani educator and humanitarian, whose work in promoting education in the Swat Valley of Pakistan has been well-documented.

These instances of the surname Yousaf across different regions and eras underscore the surname's historical depth and geographical spread, resonating not just as a familial identifier but as a cultural and spiritual emblem passed through generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yousaf

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

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

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

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