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

Poff, 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 Poff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poff in America

Poff is the 6725th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poff surname appeared 5,021 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 Poff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poff 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 Poff

The surname POFF has its origins in Germany and dates back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "pof," which referred to a swollen or puffed-up state. The name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname, perhaps referring to someone who had a puffed-up or inflated appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name POFF can be found in a document from the 14th century, where a certain "Johannes Poff" is mentioned as a resident of the town of Mainz. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time. In later centuries, various spellings of the name appeared, such as "Poff," "Poffe," and "Poffen."

The POFF surname was particularly prevalent in the German states of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was often associated with certain localities or place names. For example, the town of Poffenbach in Bavaria may have derived its name from the POFF family or vice versa. Some notable individuals with this surname include Johann Poff (1568-1640), a German theologian and author, and Friedrich Poff (1773-1853), a Prussian military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 18th century, the POFF name began to spread beyond the borders of Germany, with families bearing this surname migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable bearer of the name was Carl Gottlieb Poff (1768-1834), a German immigrant to the United States who settled in Pennsylvania and became a successful businessman.

Another figure of historical significance was Wilhelm Poff (1858-1922), a German-American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Flatiron Building and the Bowling Green Offices. His works played a significant role in shaping the city's iconic skyline during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the POFF surname is not among the most common in the world, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to its Germanic roots. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, architects, and entrepreneurs, contributing to the cultural and historical tapestry of several nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poff

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

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

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

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