Piper
An occupational surname referring to a player of the pipe or flute, or a piper in the military.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 25,947 Americans carry the last name Piper. That puts it at #1,607 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.57 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,210 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Piper surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
26K
1 in 13,210
Census rank
#1,607
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,329 bearers of the surname Piper in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.57 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1607th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Piper, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Piper
The surname Piper originated in Britain, likely taking root in the late 13th century or early 14th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English term "pipere," which referred to a player of the pipe or piper of music. The name became prominent as individuals took on these occupational roles during the medieval period.
Variations of the name spelling, such as Pyper and Piper, can be found in early English records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented individuals with this occupational title. The Pipe Rolls, a series of financial records from the medieval English Exchequer, also contain references to individuals with the surname Piper.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Piper can be traced back to Walter le Pipere, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Another early record is that of John le Pyper, found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301.
The surname Piper has been associated with various locations in England, including Piper's Hill in Leicestershire, Piper's Green in Hertfordshire, and Piper's Wood in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the Piper surname who resided or worked in those areas.
Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Piper include:
1. Thomas Piper (c. 1530-1616), an English composer and musician during the Renaissance period.
2. William Piper (1592-1671), an English theologian and author of several religious works.
3. Francis Piper (1628-1696), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Winchester.
4. Johann Ernst Piper (1777-1857), a German artist and printmaker known for his landscape etchings.
5. Carl Piper (1647-1716), a Swedish statesman and diplomat who served as the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden.
The Piper surname has a rich history rooted in the ancient occupation of pipe playing, and it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, spanning the fields of music, literature, politics, and art.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Piper
Among Census respondents with the surname Piper, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Piper bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Piper surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.3%
- Black or African American8.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Piper surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,607 | #1,607 | 0.0% |
| Count | 22,329 | 22,329 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.57 | 7.57 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Piper bearers went from 22,329 to 22,329 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,607 to #1,607.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Piper
FAQ
Piper surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Piper?
The surname Piper holds position #1,607 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 25,947 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.57 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Piper surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Piper, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.