2000
#13,717
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,027
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.75
Rare Last name
Lappin
A surname derived from the French word "lapin," meaning "rabbit," likely referring to a rabbit hunter or seller.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,163 Americans carry the last name Lappin. That puts it at #15,037 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 158,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lappin 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Lappin with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 158,462
Census rank
#15,037
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,886 bearers of the surname Lappin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15037th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lappin, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lappin
The surname Lappin is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "leppr," meaning a patch or strip of land, suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on a small piece of land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Lappyn," indicating its Scottish origins and connection to the region.
In the 14th century, the name is mentioned in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a Walter Lappyn is referenced. This provides evidence of the surname's presence and use during this time period.
The Lappin surname has also been linked to various place names throughout Scotland, such as Lappin Burn and Lappin Rig, which are located in the Scottish Borders region. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Among notable individuals bearing the Lappin surname is James Lappin (1722-1806), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Pennsylvania, United States. Another notable figure is Alexander Lappin (1776-1859), a Scottish-born businessman and banker who played a significant role in the development of the city of Wilmington, Delaware.
Thomas Lappin (1892-1977) was a renowned Scottish sculptor and artist, known for his works depicting scenes from everyday life in Scotland. His sculptures can be found in various public spaces and museums throughout the country.
Kathleen Lappin (1926-2012) was a respected Irish historian and author, best known for her work on the history of County Longford, Ireland. Her extensive research and publications have contributed greatly to the preservation of local history and heritage.
Lastly, John Lappin (1942-2021) was a Scottish actor and playwright, recognized for his contributions to the theatre scene in Glasgow and beyond. His plays often explored themes of working-class life and social issues, earning him critical acclaim.
These examples demonstrate the widespread presence of the Lappin surname across various fields and regions, reflecting its enduring legacy and the diverse accomplishments of those who have carried this name throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lappin
Among Census respondents with the surname Lappin, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Lappin 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 Lappin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.1% · 1,700
- Two or more races4.5% · 85
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 67
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1% · 20
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 9
- Black or African American0.3% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lappin
Lappin appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,155
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,122
+95 bearers (+4.7%)
Per 100,000 0.72
Rank movement Down 438 places
2020
#15,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,886
-236 bearers (-11.1%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Down 882 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,717 | 2,027 | 0.75 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,155 | 2,122 | 0.72 | +95 bearers (+4.7%) | Down 438 places |
| 2020 | #15,037 | 1,886 | 0.63 | -236 bearers (-11.1%) | Down 882 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 Lappin 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 | #14,155 | #15,037 | -6.2% |
| Count | 2,122 | 1,886 | -11.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.72 | 0.63 | -12.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lappin bearers went from 2,122 to 1,886 (-11.1% change). The surname moved down 882 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,155 to #15,037.
FAQ
Lappin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lappin?
Name Census estimates that about 2,163 living Americans carry the surname Lappin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 158,462 residents.
How common is Lappin?
Lappin ranks #15,037 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,886 people with the surname Lappin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,163), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Lappin.
Has Lappin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lappin went from 2,122 recorded bearers to 1,886. That is a decrease of 236 (-11.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #14,155 to #15,037.
What does the Census say about the background of Lappin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lappin, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (3.6%). 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 Lappin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.1% (1,700 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lappin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.1%), Two or More Races (4.5%), Hispanic (3.6%). 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 Lappin (2000, 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 Lappin mean?
A surname derived from the French word "lapin," meaning "rabbit," likely referring to a rabbit hunter or seller. 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 Lappin (0.63 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 Lappin?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.