Explore the Family Name Rafael
The meaning of Rafael
1. Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, and Galician: from the personalname Rafael (see Raphael). 2. Jewish: variant of Raphael. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Eduardo, Jose, Juan, Amado, Carlos, Gregorio, Jorge, Julio, Santiago, Ana, Basilio, Bernardo. Portuguese Ilidio, Joao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rafael in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Rafael has grown in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked at 11,734 but rose to 9,006 in 2010, reflecting a 23.25% increase. The count of individuals with this surname also increased by 48.51%, from 2,445 in 2000 to 3,631 in 2010. The proportion of people bearing Rafael per 100,000 population also saw an increase of 35.16%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,734 | #9,006 | 23.25% |
| Count | 2,445 | 3,631 | 48.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.91 | 1.23 | 35.16% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rafael
The ethnicity distribution associated with the surname Rafael also changed over the same period, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. There was a rise in those identifying as Hispanic, from 54.60% in 2000 to 62.90% in 2010, a 15.20% increase. Similarly, there was a slight increase among those identifying as Black, from 1.80% to 2.09%. However, the proportion of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, White, and American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 11.08%, 50.73%, 23.86%, and 14.73% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 54.6% | 62.9% | 15.2% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 17.96% | 15.97% | -11.08% |
| White | 20.33% | 15.48% | -23.86% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.58% | 2.2% | -14.73% |
| Black | 1.8% | 2.09% | 16.11% |
| Two or More Races | 2.74% | 1.35% | -50.73% |