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

Kepner, 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 Kepner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kepner in America

Kepner is the 14227th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kepner surname appeared 2,108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kepner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kepner 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 Kepner

The surname Kepner is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where it was likely derived from the German word "Kepfner," which referred to a maker or seller of caps or hats.

During the medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations or professions, and Kepner was no exception. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various German records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, though the spelling varied slightly, with variations such as "Kepfner," "Keppner," and "Kepner" appearing.

One of the earliest known references to the name Kepner can be found in the Nuremberg Burgravial Records, which date back to the late 13th century. These records mention a certain "Heinrich Kepfner," who was a prominent hat maker in the city of Nuremberg during that time.

As the centuries passed, the name Kepner spread throughout Germany and beyond. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Johann Kepner, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who lived from 1505 to 1572. He was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

Another historical figure with the surname Kepner was Anna Kepner, a German midwife who lived in the late 17th century. She is credited with pioneering techniques and practices that helped improve maternal and infant mortality rates in her region.

In the 19th century, the name Kepner gained recognition through the work of Friedrich Kepner, a German philosopher and writer who lived from 1819 to 1888. His works explored topics such as ethics, metaphysics, and the nature of human consciousness.

As German immigrants began to settle in various parts of the world, the surname Kepner traveled with them. One notable example is John Kepner, an American farmer and politician who lived from 1808 to 1888. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the mid-19th century.

While the Kepner surname may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the skilled hat makers and artisans of medieval Germany, reflecting a rich and diverse history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kepner

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

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

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

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