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

Pappillion, 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 Pappillion surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pappillion in America

Pappillion is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pappillion surname appeared 110 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 Pappillion.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pappillion 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 Pappillion

The surname Pappillion has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "papillon," meaning butterfly, likely referring to a person who worked with or traded in butterflies or butterfly-related products.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Normandy from the 12th century, where a certain Guillaume Pappillion is mentioned as a merchant in Rouen. This suggests that the name had already gained prominence in the region by that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various monastic records and charters, such as the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Wandrille, where a certain Jehan Pappillion is listed as a landowner in the village of Oissel.

During the 14th century, the name continued to spread throughout northern France, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such person was Pierre Pappillion, a renowned painter and illuminator who worked on the famous Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry manuscript between 1412 and 1416.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various tax records and municipal documents in cities like Paris and Rouen. A certain Jacques Pappillion, born in 1435, was a prominent merchant and member of the Guild of Haberdashers in Paris.

The 16th century saw the name spreading to other parts of Europe, particularly in the Low Countries and England. One notable figure from this period was Joris Pappillion, a Flemish botanist and naturalist born in Antwerp in 1548, who made significant contributions to the study of butterflies and moths.

As the centuries progressed, the name continued to be found in various historical records across Europe, with individuals bearing the surname making their mark in various fields, including arts, sciences, and commerce. Some other notable figures with the surname include:

1. Marguerite Pappillion (1589-1652), a French artist known for her intricate embroidery work.
2. Jean-Baptiste Pappillion (1698-1776), a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris.
3. Thomas Pappillion (1723-1804), an English botanist and horticulturist who contributed to the study of plant taxonomy.
4. Marie-Louise Pappillion (1818-1892), a French writer and feminist activist who campaigned for women's rights and education.
5. Edouard Pappillion (1856-1923), a French composer and conductor who wrote several operas and symphonic works.

While the surname Pappillion may have evolved and taken on various spellings over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in France, where it likely referred to individuals associated with the trade or study of butterflies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pappillion

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

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

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

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