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

Klopfer, 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 Klopfer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Klopfer in America

Klopfer is the 29626th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klopfer surname appeared 795 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 Klopfer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Klopfer 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 Klopfer

The surname Klopfer is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "klopfen," which means "to knock" or "to rap." This surname likely originated in the late medieval period and was likely an occupational name for someone who worked as a door-knocker, signaling for entry or announcing their presence.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Klopfer can be traced back to the 14th century in the region of Bavaria, where it was documented in the city records of Nuremberg. It is believed that the name may have first emerged in this area, as Nuremberg was a prominent center for trade and craftsmanship during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the Klopfer name appeared in various historical documents, such as the church records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Franconia. These records provide evidence of the surname's continued presence in southern Germany during this time period.

One notable individual bearing the Klopfer surname was Johann Klopfer (1592-1646), a German composer and organist who served as the court musician to the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. His compositions for organ and sacred vocal works were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was Friedrich Klopfer (1724-1811), a German theologian and philosopher from Nuremberg. He was a leading figure in the German Enlightenment movement and authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 19th century, the Klopfer name gained recognition through the contributions of the German engineer and inventor, Gustav Klopfer (1819-1896). He is credited with numerous innovations in the field of textile machinery and held several patents for his inventions.

The surname Klopfer also has a notable presence in the United States, where it was likely brought by German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. One notable American bearing this name was Erwin W. Klopfer (1901-1984), a prominent psychologist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of projective techniques and personality assessment.

Throughout its history, the Klopfer surname has been associated with various professions and fields, from music and philosophy to engineering and psychology. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have left their mark in their respective communities and areas of expertise.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klopfer

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

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

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

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