Zafiropoulos last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zafiropoulos

A Greek surname derived from the words "zaphiri" meaning sapphire and "poulos" meaning dealer or merchant.

Zafiropoulos, 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 Zafiropoulos surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zafiropoulos in America

Zafiropoulos is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zafiropoulos surname appeared 123 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 Zafiropoulos.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zafiropoulos 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 136449 127948 6.43%
Count 123 123 0.00%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.05 -22.22%

The history of the last name Zafiropoulos

Zafiropoulos is a Greek surname with roots stretching back to the late Byzantine period. It originates from the Greek words "zafiri," meaning sapphire, and "poulos," which denotes "son of." This indicates that the surname likely means "son of the sapphire," possibly alluding to a precious or valuable family or trait associated with the gemstone. It was prevalent in regions of Greece, particularly in areas where Byzantine influence was strong, such as Thessaloniki and the broader Macedonian region.

The surname Zafiropoulos appears in historical records dating back to the Ottoman period, indicating its persistence through various dominations in Greek history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in a 17th-century Ottoman tax registry, showing the Zafiropoulos family was involved in trade and held a notable status in their local community.

The name has maintained its presence into more recent history. Nikolaos Zafiropoulos, born in 1860 and dying in 1933, was a well-known Greek painter whose works contributed significantly to Greek art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His vibrant depictions of Greek landscapes captured a nationalistic spirit and helped preserve traditional Greek scenes during a time of significant cultural change.

Another notable individual is Demetrios Zafiropoulos, a scholar from the 18th century, born in 1762 and died in 1821. Known for his contributions to Greek philosophy and his translations of ancient Greek texts, he played a critical role in the intellectual revival during Greece's period of Enlightenment under Ottoman rule.

In the field of politics, Georgios Zafiropoulos, born in 1900 and passing away in 1965, was a prominent figure during the early 20th century. He served as a member of the Greek parliament and was a driving force in advocating for educational reforms in the post-World War II era.

Sophia Zafiropoulos, a famed Greek opera singer born in 1924 and dying in 1987, left an indelible mark on the performing arts. Her powerful soprano voice graced many international opera houses, bringing attention to Greek talent on the global stage.

The Zafiropoulos name also appears in the realm of science. Ioannis Zafiropoulos, born in 1947, is a distinguished Greek microbiologist. Over his prolific career, his research has greatly contributed to our understanding of microbial genetics and biotechnology, helping to place Greek science on the international map.

The surname Zafiropoulos, with its rich historical tapestry and notable individuals spanning various fields, encapsulates a blend of cultural heritage and personal achievement. Through centuries of Greek history, those bearing the name have made significant contributions, ensuring that the name Zafiropoulos remains both respected and recognized.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zafiropoulos

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

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 Zafiropoulos was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.31% 116
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 4.07% 5

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 Zafiropoulos has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.31% 89.43% 5.31%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 7.32% (S)%
Hispanic 4.07% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zafiropoulos last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zafiropoulos-surname-popularity/.

"Zafiropoulos last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zafiropoulos-surname-popularity/. Accessed 7 July, 2025

Zafiropoulos last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zafiropoulos-surname-popularity/.

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