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

Zafari, 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 Zafari surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zafari in America

Zafari is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zafari surname appeared 106 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 Zafari.

The history of the last name Zafari

The surname Zafari has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in regions historically influenced by Persian and Arabic cultures. The name is derived from the Persian word "zafar," meaning "victory" or "triumph," and the suffix "-i," which denotes belonging or origin. Thus, Zafari translates to "victorious" or "one who hails from a place associated with victory." In Arabic, the word "zafar" holds a similar meaning, which is indicative of the shared cultural and linguistic influences in these regions.

Early references to the surname Zafari can be found in Persian and Islamic historical texts. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname appears in the 12th-century manuscript, "Tafsir Al-Kabir," by the renowned Islamic scholar Fakhr al-Din al-Razi. The text references a prominent figure named Jalal al-Din Zafari, a military commander known for his strategic acumen and victorious campaigns. This individual lived during the late 11th century and early 12th century, with his estimated dates of birth and death being circa 1060-1125.

In medieval Persia, the Zafari family was noted for its contributions to both military and scholarly fields. Another notable figure was Mansur Zafari, a philologist and poet from the 13th century, who was mentioned in Saadi's Gulistan, a classic of Persian literature. Mansur Zafari's works were celebrated for their eloquent portrayal of Persian culture and for advancing the development of the Persian language.

The Zafari name also appeared in records from the Timurid era in Central Asia. A historical figure of importance was Mahmud Zafari, an architect who played a substantial role in the construction of Samarkand’s architectural wonders under Timur's reign in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Mahmud Zafari's contributions can be traced back to his influence on the distinctly Persian-Islamic architectural style that flourished during that period.

Moving into the Mughal period in India, the Zafari surname surfaces again, linked to scholars and courtiers who served in the imperial court. Shahbaz Zafari, an advisor and qudsi (judge), was a prominent figure during the reign of Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. He was instrumental in the drafting of the legal code and in matters of governance. Shahbaz Zafari's tenure is well-documented in the Ain-i-Akbari, a detailed record of the administration under Akbar, compiled by Abul Fazl.

In more recent historical contexts, one notable bearer of the surname was Abdul Rahman Zafari, a 19th-century historian and member of the Persian intellectual elite during the Qajar dynasty. Born in 1830, Abdul Rahman Zafari wrote extensively on Iranian history and politics before his death in 1897. His works continue to be referenced by scholars studying Iran’s socio-political landscape during that era.

The Zafari surname, deeply rooted in Persian and Arabic etymology and rich with historical significance, reflects a legacy of contribution to military, scholarly, and cultural achievements across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zafari

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

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

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

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