Explore the Family Name Arafat
The meaning of Arafat
Muslim: ornamental religious name adopted with reference to ‘Arafāt, a plain lying twelve miles southwest of Mecca, where pilgrims spend a day praying during the hajj.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Arafat in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Arafat has seen a noticeable increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Arafat was ranked as the 60,083rd most popular surname, but by 2010 it had risen to the 51,281st spot, representing a change of 14.65%. During this same period, the count of individuals with this surname also increased from 314 to 406, a growth rate of 29.3%, and the proportion per 100,000 residents grew from 0.12 to 0.14, marking a rise of 16.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #60,083 | #51,281 | 14.65% |
| Count | 314 | 406 | 29.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.14 | 16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Arafat
Turning to the ethnicity of those bearing the surname Arafat, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander jumped from 7.96% to 13.79%, a significant increase of 73.24%. Conversely, those reporting multiple ethnic identities dropped from 14.65% to just 3.94%, a decrease of 73.11%. The number identifying as White inched up slightly from 72.29% to 74.38%, a small change of 2.89%. Those identifying as Black also increased from 2.55% to 4.19%, a change of 64.31%. No changes were recorded for those identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72.29% | 74.38% | 2.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 7.96% | 13.79% | 73.24% |
| Black | 2.55% | 4.19% | 64.31% |
| Two or More Races | 14.65% | 3.94% | -73.11% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |