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

Pepen, 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 Pepen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pepen in America

Pepen is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pepen surname appeared 124 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 Pepen.

The history of the last name Pepen

The surname Pepen is believed to have its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch word "peper," which means "pepper," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a spice merchant or someone involved in the pepper trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Pepen can be found in Dutch records from the late 15th century, with variations such as Peppen and Pepen appearing in various regions of the Netherlands. One notable mention is in the archives of the city of Amsterdam, where a certain Jan Pepen is listed as a merchant in 1492.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent some spelling variations. In Germany, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as Peppien or Pepien, while in France, it took the form of Pepin or Pepain. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the influence of local languages.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pepen was Hans Pepen, a Dutch painter who lived in the late 16th century. His works, primarily depicting religious scenes and portraits, can still be found in various museums across the Netherlands.

In the 17th century, the name Pepen gained prominence with the birth of Gerrit Pepen (1621-1688), a renowned Dutch mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of optics and was one of the first to observe the rings of Saturn through a telescope.

Another notable figure with the surname Pepen was Pieter Pepen (1753-1829), a Dutch naval officer who played a crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars. He served in the Dutch Navy and later joined the French Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Jacob Pepen (1819-1892), a Dutch industrialist and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovative machines and processes that revolutionized the textile industry in the Netherlands.

Finally, in the 20th century, the name Pepen gained recognition through the work of Anna Pepen (1905-1982), a Dutch author and poet. Her literary works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and societal issues, earned her critical acclaim and several prestigious awards.

While the surname Pepen may not be as widespread as some other Dutch surnames, its rich history and association with notable figures in various fields have made it a distinctive and respected name within the Netherlands and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pepen

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

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 Pepen 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.

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

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

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