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

Papenfuss, 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 Papenfuss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Papenfuss in America

Papenfuss is the 34185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Papenfuss surname appeared 664 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 Papenfuss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Papenfuss 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 Papenfuss

The surname Papenfuss originates from Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have its roots in the northern German regions, particularly in Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The name is derived from the Low German words "papen" meaning "priest" and "fuss" meaning "foot," indicating a possible connection to members of the clergy or those who served in religious institutions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Papenfuss can be found in the town records of Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, from the year 1586. The name appears to have been prevalent in this region during the 16th and 17th centuries, suggesting a strong association with the local communities.

In the 17th century, the Papenfuss name can be traced to the town of Diepholz, also in Lower Saxony, where records show a family by that name residing in the area. This indicates the gradual spread of the surname beyond its initial region of origin.

During the 18th century, the Papenfuss name gained recognition through notable individuals. One such figure was Johann Friedrich Papenfuss, born in 1744 in Stadthagen, Lower Saxony. He was a prominent theologian and author, renowned for his contributions to religious literature.

Another individual of historical significance was Carl Wilhelm Papenfuss, born in 1779 in Hanover. He served as a military officer and played a role in the Napoleonic Wars, earning recognition for his service to the Kingdom of Hanover.

In the 19th century, the Papenfuss family continued to leave their mark. Heinrich Papenfuss, born in 1828 in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, gained prominence as a skilled architect and designer, contributing to notable buildings in the region.

As the Papenfuss surname spread across Germany and beyond, it also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the late 19th century, records show individuals bearing the name in places like the Netherlands and Denmark, likely as a result of migration and cultural exchange.

While the name Papenfuss has its origins firmly rooted in northern Germany, it has since become a part of the broader German cultural heritage, with families carrying this surname found in various regions of the country and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Papenfuss

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

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

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

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