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

Papenfus, 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 Papenfus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Papenfus in America

Papenfus is the 74141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Papenfus surname appeared 261 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 Papenfus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Papenfus 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 Papenfus

The surname Papenfus originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle Low German words "papen" meaning "priest" and "fus" meaning "foot." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon someone with a connection to the clergy or a religious order.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Papenfus name can be found in the church records of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, in the late 1500s. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Papenfuss, Papenfuß, and Papenfues, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and orthography.

During the 17th century, the Papenfus family seems to have established a presence in the region of Brandenburg, Prussia. Historical records from this period mention a Johann Papenfus, a prominent landowner and farmer who lived from 1620 to 1695.

In the 18th century, the Papenfus name spread to other parts of Germany, with notable individuals like Friedrich Papenfus, a renowned clockmaker from Nuremberg, who lived from 1715 to 1787. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.

The 19th century saw the Papenfus family members venturing into various professions. One notable figure was Karl Papenfus, a celebrated author and poet born in 1822 in Berlin. His works, which often explored themes of nature and spirituality, earned him widespread recognition throughout the German-speaking world.

Another prominent individual was Elise Papenfus, born in 1845 in Hanover. She was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, establishing several schools and advocating for equal educational opportunities for girls and young women.

As the 20th century dawned, the Papenfus name continued to be carried by individuals who made significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Hans Papenfus, born in 1892 in Munich, was a renowned architect known for his innovative designs and use of modern materials in construction.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and diverse individuals who have borne the Papenfus surname over the centuries. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, its legacy has extended far beyond its initial geographical boundaries, reflecting the migration and accomplishments of those who carried this name through time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Papenfus

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

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

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

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