2000
#55,376
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 347
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.13
Very Rare Last name
Poper
A Germanic surname potentially derived from the occupational term for a gamekeeper or forest ranger.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 400 Americans carry the last name Poper. That puts it at #62,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 856,886 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Poper surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
400
1 in 856,886
Census rank
#62,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
349
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 349 bearers of the surname Poper in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 62049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Poper, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Poper
The surname Poper has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the old English word "poper," which referred to a peddler or merchant who sold small wares. The name likely evolved from this occupational title, signifying an individual's trade or profession.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poper can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a "William le Poper" residing in the area. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname was a common practice during this time, indicating the individual's occupation or place of origin.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Popere, Popyr, and Popper, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that occurred during the medieval period. The Poper surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex, suggesting a concentration of individuals with this occupation in those regions.
Historical documents, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1331, mention a "John Poper" and a "Thomas Poper," further solidifying the presence of the surname in that area. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327 record a "William Popere," indicating the continued use of the name in that county.
Notable individuals with the surname Poper include:
1. Sir William Poper (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and politician from London, who served as Lord Mayor of the City in 1508.
2. John Poper (c. 1530-1592), an English clergyman and author, known for his work "A Treatise on the Sacraments."
3. Elizabeth Poper (c. 1560-1630), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Essex, famous for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants.
4. Thomas Poper (c. 1620-1680), a successful merchant and landowner from Hertfordshire, who played a role in establishing trade routes with the American colonies.
5. Richard Poper (c. 1675-1741), a noted architect and surveyor from Middlesex, responsible for designing several churches and manor houses in the region.
While the surname Poper has evolved over centuries, its origins can be traced back to the occupational title of a peddler or merchant in medieval England. The name's prevalence in certain counties and its appearance in historical records reflect its journey through time and the lives of individuals who carried this distinctive surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Poper
Among Census respondents with the surname Poper, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Poper bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Poper surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7% · 334
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 7
- Two or more races0.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 2
- Black or African American0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Poper
Poper appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#61,585
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 326
-21 bearers (-6.1%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Down 6,209 places
2020
#62,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 349
+23 bearers (+7.1%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Down 464 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #55,376 | 347 | 0.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #61,585 | 326 | 0.11 | -21 bearers (-6.1%) | Down 6,209 places |
| 2020 | #62,049 | 349 | 0.12 | +23 bearers (+7.1%) | Down 464 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Poper surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,585 | #62,049 | -0.8% |
| Count | 326 | 349 | 7.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.12 | 6.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Poper bearers went from 326 to 349 (+7.1% change). The surname moved down 464 positions in the national ranking, going from #61,585 to #62,049.
FAQ
Poper surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Poper?
Name Census estimates that about 400 living Americans carry the surname Poper. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 856,886 residents.
How common is Poper?
Poper ranks #62,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 349 people with the surname Poper. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (400), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Poper.
Has Poper become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Poper went from 326 recorded bearers to 349. That is an increase of 23 (+7.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #61,585 to #62,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Poper?
Among Census respondents with the surname Poper, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Poper in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.7% (334 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Poper appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.7%), Hispanic (2.0%), Two or More Races (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Poper (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Poper mean?
A Germanic surname potentially derived from the occupational term for a gamekeeper or forest ranger. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Poper (0.12 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Poper?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.