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

Klapper, 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 Klapper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Klapper in America

Klapper is the 25381st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klapper surname appeared 975 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 Klapper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Klapper 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 Klapper

The surname KLAPPER is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "klappe," which means "clapper" or "rattle." This suggests that the name likely originated from a nickname or occupational name for someone who worked as a bell ringer or a maker of clappers or rattles.

The earliest known records of the KLAPPER surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the southern and central regions. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a document from the city of Nuremberg in 1384, where a certain "Hans Klapper" is mentioned.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the KLAPPER name continued to spread across different parts of Germany, with variations in spelling such as "Klaper," "Klapper," and "Clapper." Some notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include Johann Klapper (c. 1450-1520), a prominent clockmaker from Nuremberg, and Hans Klapper (c. 1480-1545), a respected goldsmith from Augsburg.

As the centuries progressed, the KLAPPER name also found its way into other Germanic-speaking regions, including Switzerland and Austria. One notable figure from this era was Johann Jakob Klapper (1712-1787), a Swiss theologian and author from Schaffhausen.

In the 19th century, the KLAPPER surname made its way across the Atlantic Ocean as many Germans emigrated to the United States and other parts of the Americas. One of the earliest recorded KLAPPERs in America was Johann Klapper (1805-1887), who arrived in New York from Bavaria in the 1830s and established a successful brewery business.

Another notable individual with the KLAPPER surname was the German-American artist and sculptor Bernhard Klapper (1856-1928), who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt and later immigrated to the United States, where he became known for his numerous public sculptures and monuments.

Throughout the centuries, the KLAPPER surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, craftsmen, scholars, and entrepreneurs. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of surnames that reflect the diverse cultural heritage of German-speaking regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klapper

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

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

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

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