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

Pappan, 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 Pappan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pappan in America

Pappan is the 45105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pappan surname appeared 475 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 Pappan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pappan 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 Pappan

The surname Pappan has its origins in Germany, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Pape," which was a regional variant of the word "Pope." This likely indicates that the name was initially given as a nickname or occupational name for someone who worked in the Catholic Church or had a connection to the papacy.

In the Franconian region of Germany, the name Pappan first appeared in historical records from the town of Bamberg. A document from 1472 lists a Johannes Pappan as a resident of the town. The Pappan family spread throughout the surrounding areas of Franconia and Bavaria over the following centuries.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Pappan was Hans Pappan, a 16th-century German painter and engraver. Born in Nuremberg in 1512, he was known for his intricate woodcut prints depicting biblical scenes and portraits. His works were highly sought after by the wealthy patrons of his time.

In the 17th century, the Pappan name appears in records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a well-preserved medieval town in Bavaria. A Georg Pappan is listed as a landowner in the town's records from 1642.

The Pappan surname also has a connection to the German village of Pappenhausen, located in the state of Hesse. It is possible that some individuals with the name Pappan may have originated from or lived in this village, which could have contributed to the development of the surname.

One of the most notable individuals with the Pappan surname was Johann Pappan, a German composer and organist who lived from 1653 to 1706. He was a prominent figure in the Baroque music scene and served as the organist at the Marienkirche in Lübeck, a position previously held by the renowned composer Dietrich Buxtehude.

In the 19th century, the Pappan name appears in records from the city of Frankfurt am Main, where a family of merchants and businessmen with that surname was active. One of the most successful members of this family was Wilhelm Pappan, who lived from 1825 to 1892 and founded a successful textile manufacturing company.

While the surname Pappan is not among the most common in Germany today, it has a rich history dating back several centuries and is associated with various regions, occupations, and notable individuals throughout German history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pappan

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

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

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

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