Explore the Family Name Daft
The meaning of Daft
English (Nottinghamshire): nickname for a modest or well-mannered person, from Middle English daffte ‘mild, gentle, meek’ (Old English gedæfte). By around 1300 the word is occasionally recorded in its modern sense, perhaps by false association with Middle English daffe ‘fool, simpleton’, but this gentry and mercantile surname, which is almost certainly monogenetic, is first attested in and near Nottingham in the early 13th century, when the word’s original, complimentary sense was the usual one.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Daft in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Daft has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 43,058th most popular surname, while in 2010 it dropped to the 46,725th spot, marking an overall decrease of 8.52%. The number of individuals bearing the surname also slightly decreased from 473 in 2000 to 455 in 2010, reflecting a -3.81% change. The proportion of individuals with Daft as their surname per 100k also fell by 16.67% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,058 | #46,725 | -8.52% |
| Count | 473 | 455 | -3.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.15 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Daft
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that the majority of those carrying the Daft surname identify as White. In 2000, 97.25% identified as White, dropping only slightly to 96.48% in 2010. However, there is a small percentage (1.54% in 2010) that identify with two or more ethnic identities. The number of individuals identifying as Hispanic within the Daft surname group also slightly declined from 1.27% in 2000 to 1.10% in 2010. No individuals bearing the Daft surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.25% | 96.48% | -0.79% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.54% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 1.27% | 1.1% | -13.39% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |