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

Yusaf, 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 Yusaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yusaf in America

Yusaf is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yusaf surname appeared 104 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 Yusaf.

The history of the last name Yusaf

The surname Yusaf can trace its origins back to the Middle East, primarily in the Arabic-speaking countries. It is derived from the Arabic name Yusuf, which itself can be traced back to the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "God increases" or "God will add." The surname Yusaf shares linguistic roots with this name and has undergone various transliterations over the centuries.

Initially, the name Yusaf was prevalent in regions that are today parts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. It spread through the Islamic conquests in the 7th and 8th centuries, gaining a foothold in North Africa, Southern Europe, and South Asia. The historical spread of the name can be linked to the merchant and scholarly activities of the Islamic Golden Age, where many individuals carrying the name Yusaf made significant contributions to science, culture, and trade.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Yusaf appears in the 12th-century records of Al-Andalus (now Spain). Noteworthy is the scholar Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, who was a philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, though he primarily went by his given name. His influence and prominence in this period may have contributed to the surname's spread and preservation.

Historical manuscripts from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from the mid-8th century to the mid-13th century, also mention several individuals with the surname Yusaf. One such figure was Yusuf ibn Tashfin (died 1106), the founder of the Almoravid dynasty in North Africa and Spain who consolidated the power of Muslim rule in the region.

In the Indian subcontinent, especially during the Mughal Empire (16th-19th centuries), the surname Yusaf was carried by several prominent personalities. For instance, Mirza Yusaf Khan, a notable noble during Emperor Akbar's reign in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, played a significant role in the administration and cultural advancements of the empire.

Another prominent figure in the history of the surname Yusaf is Yusaf bin Ayyub, known as Saladin (1137–1193), the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. He is famous for leading the Muslim military campaign against the Crusader states in the Levant.

Moving to more recent history yet still in an older context, Yusaf Beg Mirza, who flourished during the 19th century in the Persian Empire, was a notable statesman and diplomat. His contributions to foreign affairs and governance left an indelible mark on Persian history.

The surname Yusaf has evolved phonetically and in spelling, influenced by regional dialects and languages. It has variants such as Yusuf, Youssef, and Youssuf, with the basic meaning and lineage remaining consistent. The historical depth and cultural significance of the surname Yusaf underline its enduring legacy across various regions and epochs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yusaf

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

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 Yusaf 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!