Surname Arif - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Arif: What does the surname Arif mean?
The last name Arif (also spelled Arief and Ariff) is of Arabic, Turkish, and Persian origin. It is derived from the Arabic word 'arif', meaning 'knowing' or 'wise'. In some cultures, this last name is often associated with scholarly pursuits and wisdom.
Arif is a common surname throughout the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, North Africa, and the United Kingdom. It is the 39th most common last name in Pakistan.
The word arif derives from the Arabic root word 'al-arafa', meaning 'to know', 'to understand', and 'to recognize'. This concept of knowledge has long been associated with many Islamic scholars and great thinkers from the 8th century onwards.
The Arif family is said to have descended from Tipu Sultan, an 18th century ruler of the Mysore kingdom in India. In the 1960s, Arif Ali, a prominent Pakistani scholar, teacher, and activist, rose to prominence in the country. He was said to have used Islamic perspectives in his work to promote peace, justice, and tolerance in Pakistani society.
The last name has been used to identify members of several prominent families in the Islamic world, including the Arif family in Morocco, the Arif family in Iraq, the Arief family in Indonesia, and the Ariff family in Malaysia.
The word arif has various connotations in different cultures. In common usage, it is often used to refer to someone of great knowledge, wisdom, and expertise. As a family name, it is associated with a rich cultural and historical heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisArif: Where does the name Arif come from?
The last name Arif is most common in the Middle East and parts of North Africa. It is especially common in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Syria. In Iraq, Arif is the 9th most common last name, while in Iran, it is the 8th most common last name. Pakistan has the highest proportion of Arifs, where Arif is the 6th most popular last name. The last name Arif is derived from the Arabic word 'arif', which means 'having knowledge.' It has been adopted as a last name in many parts of the Middle East, as the word has also come to denote a person of high standing or an important figure in Islamic culture. The popularity of the name Arif has also spread to Europe, primarily due to immigration and refugees from Middle Eastern countries. Large populations of people with the last name Arif also live in the United Kingdom and parts of Germany and France. In the United States, Arif is one of the least common last names and it is most common in California, New York, and Florida. The last name Arif is a testament to the impact of Middle Eastern culture throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Arif
The surname Arif is a Middle Eastern name typically found in Arabic-speaking countries such as Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon. It's also seen in parts of North Africa and some South Asian countries including Pakistan and India. The name is derived from the Arabic term "arif" which means "knowing" or "wise".
Variants of the name Arif include Ariff, Areef, Arief and Areif. In some Arabic-based languages, such as Pakistani Urdu, the name can be written as Areef, Areef, or Areefa.
Arif is also an anglicized version of the similar-sounding Arabic surnames Al-Arif, Al-Aref, Al-Areef, and Al-Areif, which also mean "wise".
Other similar-sounding surnames include Arraf, Arifa, Arouf, Araife, and Arafeh, which, though different in spelling, may all have the same origin.
In some countries, the name can also appear in other forms, such as the Turkish Arifoğlu, which means "son of Arif", or the Iranian Arifian, derived from "Arif" or a variation of it.
Finally, there are also surnames that may not have a direct correlation to "Arif" but still share the same meaning, such as Al-Hakeem, Al-Hafiz, and Al-Hakim, all of which have variations in spelling.
Famous people with the name Arif
- Mushtaq Ahmed Arif: He is a former Pakistani cricketer. He played one Test match for his country in the year 1998.
- Arif Habib: He is one of the most prominent figures in Pakistan's financial and industrial sector. Arif Habib is the wealthiest individual from Pakistan according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
- Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi: He was the ninth Nawab of Bhopal and also former Indian cricketer. He played 46 test matches for India.
- Hasan Arif: He is a renowned Islamic scholar and a preacher from Pakistan. He is also a professor at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.
- Salman Arif: He is a renowned Pakistani filmmaker, producer, and editor. His famous directorial debut includes the movie 'Tere Bin Laden'.
- Fazal Mahmood Arif: He was a prominent Pakistani engineer and an academic.
- Javaid Arif: He is a former Pakistani cricketer who is now a cricket coach and selector in Pakistan.
- Salahuddin Arif: He is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 4 tests and 2 ODIs for his country.
- Imtiaz Arif: He is a former Pakistani cricketer who played 8 ODIs in the 1990s for his country.
- Salar Arif: He is a Pakistani poet, and a columnist for the international newspaper The Guardian.