Explore the Family Name Shafi

The meaning of Shafi

Muslim (mainly the Indian subcontinent): from a personal name based on Arabic shāfiʿ or shafīʿ ‘intercessor, mediator’ (see the Koran 10:3). Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Mohammad, Mohammed, Tariq, Mohamed, Muhammad, Abdul, Adil, Adli, Ahamed, Ahmad, Akbar, Ali.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Shafi in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Shafi has noticeably increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Shafi was ranked as the 34,554th most common surname, but by 2010 it had risen to the 25,255th spot, marking a 26.91% increase in rank. The number of individuals with the Shafi surname also grew significantly during this period. In 2000, there were 620 people with the surname, and by 2010, that figure had jumped to 981, an impressive growth of 58.23%. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals named Shafi per 100,000 people increased from 0.23 in 2000 to 0.33 in 2010, up by 43.48%.

20002010Change
Rank#34,554#25,25526.91%
Count62098158.23%
Proportion per 100k0.230.3343.48%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shafi

Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Shafi, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates a rise in Asian/Pacific Islander heritage from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, about 64.19% of individuals with the Shafi surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, increasing to 71.25% by 2010, showing an 11% change. During the same period, those identifying with two or more races decreased dramatically from 12.58% to 4.38%, a significant reduction of 65.18%. The percentage of individuals identifying as White also dropped, from 15.16% in 2000 to 12.54% in 2010, a 17.28% decrease. Conversely, there was an increase in the Black community from 5.16% to 7.75%, a 50.19% upward change. No changes were observed within the Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander64.19%71.25%11%
White15.16%12.54%-17.28%
Black5.16%7.75%50.19%
Two or More Races12.58%4.38%-65.18%
Hispanic0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%