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

Kaphingst, 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 Kaphingst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kaphingst in America

Kaphingst is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kaphingst surname appeared 135 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 Kaphingst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kaphingst 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 Kaphingst

The surname Kaphingst originates from Germany, particularly from the northern regions. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "kaf," meaning "barrel," and "hingst," meaning "stallion." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a barrel-maker or a horse breeder.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kaphingst can be traced back to the 16th century in various regions of northern Germany. In 1562, a record in the town of Lübeck mentioned a Johann Kaphingst, who was a respected cooper (barrel-maker) in the city. Another early reference is found in the church records of Rostock, where a Katherina Kaphingst was listed as a resident in 1583.

In the 17th century, the name Kaphingst appeared in several historical documents from the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. One notable mention is of a Hans Kaphingst, who was a horse breeder and trader in the town of Wismar. His name was recorded in a ledger from 1647, detailing his transactions with local landowners.

As the name spread across northern Germany, variations in spelling began to emerge. In the 18th century, records from the city of Hamburg included entries for individuals with the surname spelled as "Kaphengst" and "Kafingst." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and differences in pronunciations.

One of the earliest known figures with the surname Kaphingst was Wilhelm Kaphingst, born in 1732 in the town of Stade. He was a prominent merchant and ship owner who traded goods along the Elbe River and the North Sea. His legacy is still celebrated in Stade, with a street named in his honor.

Another notable individual was Johanna Kaphingst, born in 1789 in Lübeck. She was a respected midwife and herbalist, renowned for her knowledge of traditional remedies. Her journal, which documented her experiences and treatments, is preserved in the archives of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck.

In the 19th century, the Kaphingst name gained recognition in the field of education. Carl Kaphingst, born in 1821 in Rostock, was a pioneering educator who advocated for modern teaching methods. He established several schools in the region and authored several influential textbooks on pedagogy.

As the name spread throughout Germany and beyond, it continued to be associated with various occupations and professions. From barrel-makers and horse breeders to merchants and educators, the Kaphingst surname has left its mark on the history and culture of northern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kaphingst

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

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

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

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