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

Zafiris, 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 Zafiris surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zafiris in America

Zafiris is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zafiris surname appeared 136 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 Zafiris.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zafiris 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 Zafiris

The surname Zafiris can be traced back to Greece, where its origins are deeply rooted in the Greek language and culture. The name is believed to have originated during the Byzantine Era, around the 10th to 12th centuries. It is derived from the Greek word "zafiros," which means sapphire, a precious gemstone. This connection likely denotes qualities of rarity, beauty, and value, which were significant to families bearing the name.

Initially, the surname Zafiris was concentrated in the Peloponnese region, particularly in the area around Sparta. Over time, it spread throughout Greece and into areas under Byzantine influence. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in manuscripts from monasteries in Mount Athos, dating back to the late 13th century. These records mention a monk by the name of Ioannis Zafiris, who lived and documented his experiences in a series of religious texts.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the Chronicles of the Morea, an important medieval Greek text that details the history of the Peloponnese during the Frankish period. Here, Alexandros Zafiris is noted as a local landowner and warrior who played a role in regional conflicts between the Byzantine Greeks and the Franks. This historical figure is believed to have been born around 1420 and died approximately in 1480.

By the 17th century, the Zafiris surname had established itself in the societal and economic fabric of various Greek cities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki. A notable individual from this period is Dimitrios Zafiris, an influential merchant born in 1645. He became well-known for his trade connections between Greece and the Venetian territories, significantly contributing to the regional economy before his death in 1702.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Zafiris appears in the context of the Greek War of Independence. Nikolaos Zafiris, born in 1798, was a fervent supporter of the revolutionary cause and fought bravely in several key battles. His participation in the struggle for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire solidified the name's association with patriotism and valor.

The latter part of the 19th century saw the name Zafiris linked to the burgeoning educational and cultural renaissance in Greece. Eleni Zafiris, born in 1856, became one of the first women to be recognized for her contributions to Greek literature and education. She published numerous essays and poems advocating for women's rights and education, marking her as a pioneering figure before her death in 1923.

Throughout its history, the surname Zafiris has retained a strong connection to Greek culture, embodying values of beauty, dignity, and resilience. The name continues to be a testament to the family's historical and cultural contributions, resonating through the centuries as a symbol of Greek heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zafiris

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zafiris, 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!