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

Gripper, 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 Gripper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gripper in America

Gripper is the 56836th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gripper surname appeared 359 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 Gripper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gripper 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 Gripper

The surname Gripper has its roots in the German language, originating in the late medieval period around the 14th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "gripper," which translates to "one who grasps or grips." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who worked as graspers or grippers in various trades, possibly related to handling materials or tools.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name was spelled as "Gripper" or "Griper" in official records and documents. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Hans Gripper, a blacksmith born in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, around 1420. His name is mentioned in the town's guild records from the mid-15th century.

As the surname spread across German-speaking regions, it also underwent slight variations in spelling, such as "Grieper" and "Grypper." In the 16th century, the Gripper family established itself in the city of Nuremberg, where Johann Gripper (1512-1588) became a respected merchant and guild member.

The Gripper surname later found its way into other European countries, likely through migration and trade. One notable bearer was Willem Gripper (1632-1701), a Dutch artist and engraver who gained recognition for his detailed etchings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

In England, the surname appears to have been introduced by German immigrants or traders during the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas Gripper (1675-1743), a merchant from London who established a successful trading company dealing with German markets.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Gripper (1789-1867), an English industrialist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and railways. His innovations played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.

As the surname spread across different regions, it also gave rise to variations such as "Grippen" and "Gripps." One notable bearer of the latter form was Alexander Gripps (1810-1882), a Scottish inventor and entrepreneur who patented several innovative designs for agricultural machinery.

While the surname Gripper is not among the most common surnames today, it has left its mark in various fields throughout history, reflecting the diverse occupations and accomplishments of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gripper

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

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 Gripper 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 Gripper 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 Gripper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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