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

Papson, 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 Papson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Papson in America

Papson is the 57516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Papson surname appeared 354 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 Papson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Papson 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 Papson

The surname Papson has its roots in the Netherlands, with records indicating its presence as early as the 16th century. Originating from the Dutch word "pap," meaning porridge or gruel, it was likely initially used as a nickname for someone who prepared or sold this dish. The earliest known spelling was "Papsoen," gradually evolving into its current form.

One of the earliest references to the Papson name can be found in a 1587 document from the city of Amsterdam, which lists a merchant named Pieter Papsoen among the city's inhabitants. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the Papson name appears to have spread beyond the Netherlands, with records indicating individuals bearing this surname in neighboring regions such as Germany and Belgium. For instance, a Johannes Papson was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1628, while a family by the name of Papson resided in Antwerp, Belgium, in the late 1600s.

The 18th century saw the emergence of notable individuals with the Papson surname. In 1734, a Dutch poet and playwright named Willem Papson was born in Rotterdam. His works, though not widely celebrated today, were influential in his time and contributed to the cultural landscape of the Netherlands.

Another noteworthy figure was Jan Papson, a Dutch naval officer who served in the navy of the Dutch East India Company in the late 1700s. His exploits during his voyages to the East Indies were documented in several journals, providing valuable insights into the maritime history of that era.

As the 19th century dawned, the Papson name continued to spread, with records indicating its presence in various parts of Europe and even in the Americas. In 1812, a German immigrant named Heinrich Papson settled in Pennsylvania, becoming one of the earliest known bearers of the name in the United States.

One of the most prominent individuals with the Papson surname was the Dutch artist and painter, Adriaan Papson, who lived from 1845 to 1923. His landscapes and portraits were widely acclaimed, and several of his works are now housed in prestigious art galleries across Europe.

Throughout its history, the Papson surname has maintained a strong presence, particularly in the Netherlands and other parts of Western Europe. While not among the most common surnames, it has left an indelible mark on various aspects of society, from literature and art to maritime exploration and commerce.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Papson

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

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

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

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