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

Happ, 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 Happ surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Happ in America

Happ is the 22095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Happ surname appeared 1,172 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 Happ.

We can also compare 2010 data for Happ 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 Happ

The surname Happ originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "happ," which means "fortunate" or "lucky." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone considered fortunate or lucky, possibly due to their circumstances or personal attributes.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Happe" or "Happel," which were regional variations. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Brandenburg region, dated around 1270, where a person named "Henricus Happe" is mentioned.

The Happ surname can also be traced to various place names in Germany, such as Happ, a small village in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, or Happurg, a town in the state of Bavaria. It is possible that the name originated from one of these locations, and individuals migrated from there, carrying the name with them.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the Happ surname was Johann Happ, a German theologian and reformer born in 1497 in Nuremberg. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and was an advocate for religious freedom.

Another notable figure was Johann Adam Happ (1721-1783), a German philosopher and mathematician who made important contributions to the field of calculus and differential equations.

In the 19th century, Carl Happ (1820-1896), a German industrialist and inventor, gained recognition for his innovative work in the field of textile machinery. His inventions played a crucial role in the modernization of the textile industry.

The name Happ also found its way into the world of literature with Heinrich Happ (1857-1946), a German writer and poet known for his works that explored themes of nature and rural life.

Lastly, Otto Happ (1873-1960), a German military officer and World War I veteran, is notable for his role in the German resistance movement against the Nazi regime during World War II.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the Happ surname throughout history, showcasing its German origins and its presence across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Happ

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

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

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

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