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

Youssefi, 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 Youssefi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Youssefi in America

Youssefi is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Youssefi surname appeared 226 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 Youssefi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Youssefi 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 Youssefi

The surname Youssefi originates from the Middle East, particularly within Persian-speaking regions, with its earliest roots in the Persian Empire, around the 8th-9th centuries. The name is an indication of patronymic lineage, derived from the given name Youssef, which is the Persian form of Joseph, a name with deep biblical connections. The name Youssefi thus means “descendant of Youssef.”

The name Youssef itself comes from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning “he will add,” referring to a story in the Old Testament where Joseph, son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers and later rose to prominence in Egypt. The surname Youssefi came to signify families or individuals who were descendent of, or associated with, someone named Youssef, which was particularly popular within Jewish communities in Persia well before the Islamic conquest.

Historical references to the surname Youssefi are found in various Persian manuscripts and medieval records. One of the earliest documented instances appears in the Safavid era (1501-1736), where records note a scholar named Alireza Youssefi, born in 1562 and died in 1629, who was renowned for his works on Islamic philosophy and poetry.

Another notable figure is Hakim Mohammad Youssefi, a 17th-century physician born in 1640 and died in 1702, who wrote extensively on traditional Persian medicine. His compilations included interpretations of older Persian texts and were influential in shaping medical knowledge in the region.

In the late 18th century, during the Qajar dynasty, Mirza Abbas Youssefi, born in 1778 and passed away in 1831, was recognized for his contributions to Persian literature. His poetic works were instrumental in reviving classical Persian literature during a period of substantial political and social upheaval.

By the 19th century, with increased interactions between Persia and European countries, several people with the surname Youssefi became involved in diplomatic and cultural exchanges. One such notable individual was Reza Youssefi, born in 1865 and died in 1921, a diplomat who played a crucial role in establishing educational missions and promoting Persian culture abroad.

In the early 20th century, Fatemeh Youssefi, born in 1902 and died in 1975, emerged as a pioneering figure in Persian women's rights movements. Her advocacy for women's education and participation in public life marked significant progress in the socio-cultural dynamics of Iran.

The surname Youssefi reflects a rich cultural and historical fabric, tracing back to ancient times and progressing through various significant eras, contributing immensely to fields such as literature, medicine, diplomacy, and social reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Youssefi

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

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

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

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