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

Kaptein, 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 Kaptein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kaptein in America

Kaptein is the 89403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kaptein surname appeared 207 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 Kaptein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kaptein 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 Kaptein

The surname KAPTEIN originated in the Netherlands and Belgium, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Dutch word "kapitein," which means "captain" or "leader." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have held positions of authority or leadership, possibly in the military or maritime professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KAPTEIN surname can be found in the archives of the city of Amsterdam, where a certain Jan KAPTEIN is mentioned in a document dated 1587. Another early reference comes from the Dutch province of Friesland, where a Herman KAPTEIN is listed in a church register from the year 1612.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the KAPTEIN surname was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of the Netherlands and Belgium, where many families were involved in maritime activities such as seafaring, shipbuilding, and trade. It is possible that some bearers of the name were captains or leaders in these industries, which could have contributed to the origin and spread of the surname.

One notable individual with the KAPTEIN surname was Pieter KAPTEIN (1621-1693), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. Born in Amsterdam, Pieter KAPTEIN was a member of the city's prestigious Guild of St. Luke and is considered one of the leading marine painters of his time.

Another historically significant figure was Dirk KAPTEIN (1766-1843), a Dutch naval officer and explorer who served in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). Dirk KAPTEIN was instrumental in charting and mapping several islands in the Indonesian archipelago, and a number of geographic features in the region bear his name.

In the 19th century, the KAPTEIN surname spread beyond the Netherlands and Belgium as families emigrated to other parts of the world. For example, Johannes KAPTEIN (1802-1878), a Dutch immigrant to the United States, settled in Michigan in the 1840s and became a prominent farmer and landowner in the region.

Throughout history, the KAPTEIN surname has been associated with leadership, authority, and maritime traditions, reflecting its Dutch origins and the occupations of its earliest bearers. While the name may have evolved over time, its connection to the concept of captaincy and command remains a defining characteristic of its etymology and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kaptein

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

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

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

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