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

Zafrani, 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 Zafrani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zafrani in America

Zafrani is the 87663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zafrani surname appeared 212 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 Zafrani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zafrani 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 Zafrani

The surname Zafrani has its roots in the Middle East, with origins tracing back to medieval times, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran, Iraq, and surrounding areas. It derives from the Arabic word "zafran," which means saffron, a precious spice that was extensively traded and valued for its culinary and medicinal properties. Saffron itself is derived from the Arabic root word "asfar," meaning yellow. The surname Zafrani likely originated as an occupational name, given to individuals who traded in or cultivated saffron.

In historical records, the surname Zafrani surfaces in various forms and spellings, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region. The first documented instances appear in trade records and Jewish community documents of the 15th and 16th centuries. Jewish communities in Persia and the Ottoman Empire frequently adopted surnames related to their occupations, and Zafrani was one such name.

One notable early reference is the appearance of the name in a 16th-century ledger kept by a Jewish merchant in Baghdad, who was known for his dealings in spices and textiles. Haim Zafrani, who lived in the early 1500s, is one of the earliest individuals with this name recorded in these trade documents. His family was well-known within the community for their association with the spice trade, particularly saffron.

During the early 1800s, Rabbi Shlomo Zafrani, a prominent religious leader and scholar, emerged in Aleppo, Syria. Born in 1775 and passing in 1848, Rabbi Shlomo was highly respected for his dedication to his faith and his contributions to the Jewish community. His works included commentaries on religious texts and he played a vital role in the community's spiritual guidance.

The name also appears frequently in the historical writings of the Moroccan Jewish diaspora. One such figure is David Zafrani, who was an influential rabbi in Marrakech in the late 19th century. Born in 1830 and leading the community until his death in 1906, Rabbi David Zafrani was renowned for his scholarship and his efforts to preserve Jewish traditions in Morocco.

A more recent yet still historical figure is Jacob Zafrani, who was born in 1910 and became a well-respected Jewish historian and author. His works focused on the history and culture of the Sephardic Jews, and he made significant contributions to the understanding of the Jewish diaspora in North Africa.

Lastly, Rivka Zafrani, who lived during the early 20th century, was a notable Moroccan writer and educator. Born in 1901, she was a key figure in the promotion of education within the Jewish community of Casablanca. Her efforts played a crucial role in advancing literacy and education among Jewish women in Morocco until her death in 1965.

The Zafrani surname, through its various appearances and notable bearers, reflects a rich tapestry of cultural and occupational history, echoing the importance of the spice trade in the Middle East and the contributions of the Jewish communities in preserving and fostering cultural and religious traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zafrani

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

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

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