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

Peppers, 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 Peppers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peppers in America

Peppers is the 6551st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peppers surname appeared 5,171 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Peppers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peppers 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 Peppers

The surname "PEPPERS" is of English origin and is believed to have emerged in the late 16th or early 17th century. It is thought to be an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word "pipor," meaning pepper, which itself originated from the Latin "piper." The surname likely referred to someone who grew, traded, or sold peppers and other spices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "PEPPERS" can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, England, where a John Peppers was mentioned in 1612. Another early reference is from the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665, which listed a Thomas Peppers in the village of Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The surname "PEPPERS" has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Pepper Hill in Hertfordshire and Pepper Street in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the surname's spelling and spread across different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname "PEPPERS" include Sir William Peppers (1595-1670), a prominent merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1658. Another figure of historical significance is John Peppers (1633-1703), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the realm of literature, the surname "PEPPERS" is associated with the 19th-century English writer and social reformer, Mary Peppers (1815-1892). Her works shed light on the plight of the working class and advocated for improved living conditions for the poor.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the accomplishments of Sir Robert Peppers (1901-1985), a distinguished British diplomat who played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945.

While the surname "PEPPERS" may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, its rich history and connections to various aspects of society, from trade and politics to science and literature, make it a fascinating subject of study.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peppers

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

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

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

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