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

Proper, 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 Proper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Proper in America

Proper is the 11456th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Proper surname appeared 2,750 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Proper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Proper 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 Proper

The surname Proper is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "propre," which means "one's own" or "personal." It was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a distinct or unique personality or appearance.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century in England, where it first appeared in historical records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Proper, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Propyr, Propre, and Propour. John Proper, born around 1320 in Oxfordshire, was a notable figure who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1355.

During the 15th century, the name Proper was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. William Proper, born in 1445 in Somerset, was a prominent landowner and influential figure in his local community.

In the 16th century, the name Proper became more widespread across England. One notable bearer was Sir Thomas Proper, born in 1520 in Kent, who served as a Member of Parliament for Canterbury in 1558 and played a significant role in the English Reformation.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable Propers, including John Proper (1620-1681), a renowned scholar and author from Gloucestershire, and Elizabeth Proper (1658-1732), a philanthropist and advocate for women's education from London.

In the 18th century, the Proper family gained prominence in various fields. James Proper (1725-1799) was a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, while Richard Proper (1745-1820) was a celebrated architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath.

As the Proper surname spread across England and beyond, it has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of British history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Proper

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

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

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

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