Find out how popular the last name Alper is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Alper.

Alper, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Alper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alper in America

Alper is the 20468th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alper surname appeared 1,297 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Alper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alper to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Alper

The surname Alper has its origins in Turkey, dating back to the Ottoman Empire era. It is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "alp," which means "brave" or "heroic." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional courage or valor in battle or other endeavors.

The earliest recorded instances of the Alper surname can be traced back to the 15th century, where it appeared in various Ottoman records and manuscripts. One notable example is the mention of an Alper family in a tax register from the province of Anatolia, dated 1478.

During the Ottoman period, the Alper surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of central and eastern Anatolia, which is now modern-day Turkey. Some historical records also indicate that the name was occasionally associated with certain place names or villages, such as Alperköy or Alperler.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the Alper surname was Mahmud Alper, a renowned Ottoman poet and scholar who lived in the 16th century (1495-1564). His works, particularly his poetry, were highly regarded and influential during his time.

Another notable figure was Hüseyin Alper, a prominent military commander who served in the Ottoman army during the 17th century (1620-1688). He played a crucial role in various military campaigns and was known for his strategic prowess on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, Mehmet Alper (1816-1890) was a respected legal scholar and judge in the Ottoman Empire. He authored several treatises on Ottoman law and jurisprudence, which are still referenced by scholars today.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Alper surname gained some prominence in the literary and academic circles of the Ottoman Empire and later, the Republic of Turkey. Necip Alper (1876-1943) was a renowned writer, poet, and educator who contributed significantly to the development of modern Turkish literature.

Another notable figure was Ahmet Alper (1902-1976), a prominent Turkish academic and historian. He specialized in Ottoman history and authored numerous books and publications on the subject, shedding light on the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the Alper surname throughout history, and the name continues to be prevalent in Turkey and among Turkish communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alper

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Alper.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Alper was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Alper has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Alper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alper, please contact us.

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