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

Zefi, 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 Zefi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zefi in America

Zefi is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zefi surname appeared 111 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 Zefi.

The history of the last name Zefi

The surname Zefi is believed to have originated in the regions surrounding Albania and Kosovo, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is thought to derive from an ethnic and cultural legacy specific to this part of the Balkans, where it was manifested in various forms.

One of the earliest appearances of the surname Zefi can be traced to the Ottoman Empire's tax records from the 15th century. During this period, the Balkans were predominantly under Ottoman control, and many Albanian Christian and Muslim families adopted surnames that were recorded by the state. The surname Zefi is likely derived from the personal name Zef, a short form of the Albanian name Jozef, which means Joseph in English. The name Joseph has biblical origins, popular among both Christian and Jewish communities.

In historical documents, the surname Zefi appeared in variably spelled forms, such as Zeffi and Zzefi. A known figure bearing the surname Zefi, from the late 17th century, was Pjetër Zefi, an influential trader in the town of Shkodra. Born in 1665, he played a crucial role in local commerce until his death in 1732.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Zefi family, Gjon Zefi, was noted as a respected village elder and local leader in what is now modern-day Kosovo. Records from 1754 mention his efforts in brokering peace among feuding clans, illustrating the family’s prominence in local matters. Gjon Zefi was born in 1690 and lived until 1766, remembered for his leadership and diplomacy.

In the 19th century, a significant historical figure with the surname was Anastase Zefi, a well-known Albanian resistance fighter against the Ottoman Empire. Born in 1821, Anastase Zefi became a symbol of the national struggle for independence and was involved in numerous campaigns until his death in 1885.

Moving into the early 20th century, Mark Zefi emerged as an influential political figure in the early years of Albania's statehood. Born in 1889, he was instrumental in the country's push for modernization and its brief period of monarchy. He passed away in 1945, remembered for his contributions to the young nation’s political landscape.

Lastly, another notable figure was Marije Zefi, who was an acclaimed educator and cultural advocate in the mid-20th century. Born in 1922 in Northern Albania, she dedicated her life to the promotion of Albanian culture and education, significantly impacting the region's intellectual development before her death in 1978.

The surname Zefi, with its rich history and presence in important cultural and historical contexts, reveals the deep-rooted legacy of the regions it hails from. This narrative thread connects various influential individuals who have borne the name, from the Middle Ages to the present.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zefi

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

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

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

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