2000
#21,438
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,137
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.42
Rare Last name
Popov
A Russian surname derived from the word "pop" meaning priest.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,164 Americans carry the last name Popov. That puts it at #15,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 158,389 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Popov surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Popov with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 158,389
Census rank
#15,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,887 bearers of the surname Popov in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Popov, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Popov
The surname Popov is of Russian origin, with its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Russian word "pop," which means a priest or a clergyman. The name suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were descendants of priests or had some connection to the clergy.
In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Popoff" or "Popovich," reflecting regional variations and the influence of local dialects. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Veliky Novgorod chronicles, which date back to the 12th century, where it was mentioned in reference to a certain Popov family residing in the region.
During the 14th century, the name Popov appeared in various historical documents, including the records of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. One notable figure from this time was Ivan Popov, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Novgorod between 1320 and 1380.
As time progressed, the Popov surname spread across various regions of Russia, and several prominent individuals bore this name. In the 16th century, Feodor Popov was a renowned icon painter who contributed significantly to the development of Russian religious art.
In the 18th century, Mikhail Popov (1742-1806) was a respected Russian architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg. His contemporary, Alexander Popov (1749-1827), was a celebrated actor and writer who made significant contributions to the Russian theater.
The 19th century saw the rise of another prominent figure, Alexander Popov (1859-1906), a Russian physicist and inventor who is credited with the invention of the radio. His groundbreaking work in wireless communication earned him a place in history as a pioneer in the field of radio technology.
Another notable bearer of the Popov surname was Nikolai Popov (1890-1943), a Soviet military commander who played a crucial role in the defense of Leningrad during World War II. His bravery and strategic leadership earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Throughout history, the Popov surname has been associated with various professions, from clergy and merchants to artists, architects, scientists, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to the Russian Orthodox Church, the name has transcended its religious roots and become a part of Russia's rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Popov
Among Census respondents with the surname Popov, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Popov bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Popov surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 1,793
- Two or more races2.2% · 41
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 35
- Black or African American0.5% · 10
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Popov
Popov appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#16,593
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,728
+591 bearers (+52.0%)
Per 100,000 0.59
Rank movement Up 4,845 places
2020
#15,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,887
+159 bearers (+9.2%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 1,565 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #21,438 | 1,137 | 0.42 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #16,593 | 1,728 | 0.59 | +591 bearers (+52.0%) | Up 4,845 places |
| 2020 | #15,028 | 1,887 | 0.63 | +159 bearers (+9.2%) | Up 1,565 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Popov surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,593 | #15,028 | 9.4% |
| Count | 1,728 | 1,887 | 9.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.59 | 0.63 | 7.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Popov bearers went from 1,728 to 1,887 (+9.2% change). The surname moved up 1,565 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,593 to #15,028.
FAQ
Popov surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Popov?
Name Census estimates that about 2,164 living Americans carry the surname Popov. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 158,389 residents.
How common is Popov?
Popov ranks #15,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,887 people with the surname Popov. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,164), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Popov.
Has Popov become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Popov went from 1,728 recorded bearers to 1,887. That is an increase of 159 (+9.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #16,593 to #15,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Popov?
Among Census respondents with the surname Popov, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Popov in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (1,793 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Popov appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Two or More Races (2.2%), Hispanic (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Popov (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Popov mean?
A Russian surname derived from the word "pop" meaning priest. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Popov (0.63 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Popov?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.