Chopin
A Polish surname derived from the personal name Chopin meaning "tree stump".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Chopin. That puts it at #36,048 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chopin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#36,048
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
622
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 622 bearers of the surname Chopin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 36048th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chopin, the largest self-reported group is White at 39.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.8%) and Hispanic (25.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chopin
The surname Chopin originated from Poland in the late 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Polish word "chop," meaning a young man or lad. The name may also be related to the Polish word "chlopiec," meaning a boy or a peasant.
The earliest recorded use of the surname Chopin dates back to the late 1700s in the region of Mazovia, located in central Poland. The name was likely used to identify individuals from this area or those with ties to the region.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Chopin is Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), the renowned Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era and is known for his piano works, including preludes, études, and nocturnes.
Another notable figure with the Chopin surname is Ludwika Chopin (1854-1924), a Polish writer and feminist activist. She was an advocate for women's rights and education and authored several novels and plays.
In the 20th century, Jerzy Chopin (1923-2018) was a Polish diplomat and historian. He served as the Polish ambassador to several countries and wrote extensively about Polish history and diplomacy.
The name Chopin has also been associated with other individuals, such as Kazimierz Chopin (1914-1991), a Polish film director, and Tadeusz Chopin (1918-2005), a Polish journalist and writer.
While the surname Chopin is most commonly found in Poland, it has also been used by individuals of Polish descent in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with significant Polish communities or immigration.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chopin
Among Census respondents with the surname Chopin, the largest self-reported group is White at 39.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.8%) and Hispanic (25.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Chopin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Chopin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White39.9%
- Black or African American32.8%
- Hispanic or Latino25.2%
- Two or more races1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Chopin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,382 | #36,048 | 12.9% |
| Count | 496 | 622 | 25.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.18 | 0.21 | 16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Chopin bearers went from 496 to 622 (+25.4% change). The surname moved up 5,334 positions in the national ranking, going from #41,382 to #36,048.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chopin
FAQ
Chopin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Chopin?
The surname Chopin holds position #36,048 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Chopin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chopin, the largest self-reported group is White at 39.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.8%) and Hispanic (25.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.