2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Kipf
A Germanic surname referring to a pointed or peaked hill or mountain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 120 Americans carry the last name Kipf. That puts it at #152,989 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,856,286 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kipf surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
120
1 in 2,856,286
Census rank
#152,989
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105 bearers of the surname Kipf in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152989th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kipf, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kipf
The surname KIPF originated in Germany, likely emerging in the 14th or 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "kip," meaning "pointed" or "sharp," possibly referring to a physical characteristic or occupation. The name may also be related to the Old High German word "kipf," meaning "summit" or "peak," suggesting a geographic origin.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KIPF can be found in the village of Kipfenberg, located in the district of Eichstätt in Bavaria, Germany. The name is thought to have originated in this region, with the village name potentially serving as the basis for the surname. Records from the late 15th century mention a Johann Kipf, a landowner in the area.
In the 16th century, the name KIPF appeared in various historical documents, including tax records and church registries. Notable figures from this period include Hans Kipf (1510-1578), a renowned painter and woodcarver from Nuremberg, and Matthias Kipf (1542-1612), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Tübingen.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the KIPF surname spread across different regions of Germany, with several individuals achieving recognition in various fields. One such figure was Johann Kipf (1653-1726), a German jurist and author who served as a professor of law at the University of Heidelberg.
In the 19th century, the name KIPF gained prominence in the field of science and exploration. Carl Kipf (1801-1874) was a German botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of South America and contributed significantly to the study of plant taxonomy.
Another notable individual was Friedrich Kipf (1825-1892), a German engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and industrial machinery. His innovations played a crucial role in the industrialization of Germany during the 19th century.
As the KIPF surname migrated beyond Germany, it gained recognition in other parts of Europe and the world. One example is Émile Kipf (1867-1942), a French artist and sculptor known for his works in bronze and marble, which are displayed in several museums across Europe.
While this account provides an overview of the surname KIPF and its historical significance, it is important to note that genealogical research continues to uncover new information and insights into the origins and evolution of family names.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kipf
Among Census respondents with the surname Kipf, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Kipf bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kipf surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4% · 97
- Hispanic or Latino2.9% · 3
- Two or more races2.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kipf
Kipf appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,989
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
+3 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,443 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,989 | 105 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.9%) | Up 5,443 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Kipf surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #152,989 | 3.4% |
| Count | 102 | 105 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 17.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kipf bearers went from 102 to 105 (+2.9% change). The surname moved up 5,443 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #152,989.
FAQ
Kipf surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kipf?
Name Census estimates that about 120 living Americans carry the surname Kipf. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,856,286 residents.
How common is Kipf?
Kipf ranks #152,989 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 105 people with the surname Kipf. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (120), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Kipf.
Has Kipf become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kipf went from 102 recorded bearers to 105. That is an increase of 3 (+2.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #152,989.
What does the Census say about the background of Kipf?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kipf, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Kipf in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.4% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kipf appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.4%), Hispanic (2.9%), Two or More Races (2.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Kipf (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Kipf mean?
A Germanic surname referring to a pointed or peaked hill or mountain. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Kipf (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Kipf?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.