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

Looper, 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 Looper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Looper in America

Looper is the 7486th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Looper surname appeared 4,451 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Looper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Looper 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 Looper

The surname Looper originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "loppere," which referred to a runner or messenger. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to individuals who worked as messengers or couriers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Looper can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379, where a John Loper is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1482, which document a William Loper. These historical records provide evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the late medieval period in northern England.

The Looper surname is also found in various spellings in early records, such as Loper, Lopper, and Lopere. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences in spelling. The name's evolution over time highlights the fluidity of surnames during the Middle Ages.

One notable individual with the surname Looper was Sir William Looper (1564-1623), a successful merchant and alderman from the City of London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1601 and was knighted by King James I in recognition of his contributions to the city.

Another historical figure was John Looper (1703-1777), a British clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Winchester from 1751 until his death. He was known for his theological writings and his involvement in religious affairs during the 18th century.

In the realm of literature, Thomas Looper (1775-1825) was a prominent English poet and writer. He gained recognition for his pastoral poetry and his contributions to the Romantic literary movement of the early 19th century.

Moving to the Americas, we find Samuel Looper (1785-1863), an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in the early 1800s. He was actively involved in local politics and community affairs during his lifetime.

Lastly, Mary Looper (1838-1921) was a notable educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States. She founded one of the first schools for African American children in Mississippi and played a significant role in promoting education and social progress in the post-Civil War era.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who carried the Looper surname throughout history, spanning various fields and regions across multiple centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Looper

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

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

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

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