Find out how popular the last name Golphenée is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Golphenée.
A surname possibly originating from a place name in India or Sri Lanka.
Golphenée, 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 Golphenée surname is from the 2000 census data.
Golphenée is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Golphenée surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Golphenée.
The surname Golphenee is a rare and intriguing name with origins that can be traced back to continental Europe, most likely around the regions now known as France and Germany. The earliest mention of a surname similar to Golphenee dates back to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. During this period, the area was a melting pot of cultures, which influenced the evolution of unique surnames.
The etymology of Golphenee appears to be linked to older words from Middle High German or Old French. The prefix "Golph" might have originated from the Germanic word "wolf," meaning a predatory mammal, which was common in family names to symbolize strength and courage. The suffix "enee" could derive from "heim" for home or settlement, or "nieu" for new, possibly indicating new settlement or a person hailing from a new land.
Historical records, including manorial rolls and church registers, occasionally mention names resembling Golphenee. For instance, a manuscript from 1417, housed in the archives of Strasbourg, mentions a Johann Golphenei as a witness in a property dispute. Another notable reference appears in a 15th-century diocesan ledger listing a Peter Golphenne residing in what is modern-day Alsace.
One of the earliest documented individuals with a spelling close to Golphenee was Wilhelm Golphenee, born in 1492 in the town of Landau in Germany. Wilhelm was a well-regarded blacksmith whose craftsmanship earned him a place in local court documents dated around 1520 when he was involved in forming a guild.
In the 16th century, the family name made its way to the Low Countries, where records from 1578 cite a Marie Golphenee in Antwerp, who was known as a successful merchant. Her involvement in trade extended to textile businesses, and she was highly regarded in the local commercial community.
Entering the 17th century, a soldier by the name of Hans Golphenee served in the Dutch military campaigns, records dated from 1625 to 1645 list him as a captain, recognizing his bravery in numerous battles during the Eighty Years' War. Hans’ determination to rise through the military ranks underscores the name’s association with valor and leadership.
Later mention in scholarly work includes Émile Golphenee, a Paris-born botanist born in 1796, who contributed significantly to plant taxonomy. He published several works between 1820 and 1840 that remain referenced in botanical studies today.
Despite its rarity, the surname Golphenee carries a lineage of strength, continuity, and noteworthy contributions across several fields and regions over centuries.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Golphenée.
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:
For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Golphenée was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 99.02% | 101 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 0.00% | 0 |
Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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.
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 Golphenée was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/golphenee-surname-popularity/">Golphenée last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Golphenée last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 17, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/golphenee-surname-popularity/.
"Golphenée last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/golphenee-surname-popularity/. Accessed 17 July, 2025
Golphenée last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/golphenee-surname-popularity/.
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