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

Mapes, 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 Mapes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mapes in America

Mapes is the 6260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mapes surname appeared 5,456 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 Mapes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mapes 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 Mapes

The surname MAPES has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Old English words "map" and "mappe," meaning a map or charts. The name was likely first adopted by individuals who worked as cartographers or map-makers, a highly skilled and respected profession during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MAPES can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mappes." This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, a notable figure bearing the surname MAPES was Walter Map (c. 1140 - c. 1210), a medieval writer and courtier of King Henry II. He is best known for his satirical work "De Nugis Curialium" (Courtiers' Trifles), a collection of anecdotes and observations about court life.

The MAPES surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Mappowder in Dorset and Mappleton in Yorkshire. These locations may have influenced the development of the surname or provided a source for its adoption by families residing in those areas.

Another notable bearer of the MAPES surname was Thomas Mapes (c. 1279 - c. 1336), an English prelate who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1328 until his death. He was known for his involvement in political affairs during the reign of Edward III.

In the 16th century, a variant spelling of the surname, "Mappes," was recorded in the parish registers of Dorset, England. This variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that period.

A more recent historical figure with the MAPES surname was Walter Mapes (1552 - 1610), an English poet and playwright who contributed to the development of early modern English literature. His works include the play "The Arraignment of a Jew" and a collection of poems titled "A Green Forest."

As the MAPES surname spread throughout England and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Mappes, Mapps, and Mapp. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of individual record-keepers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mapes

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

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

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

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