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

Raffensperger, 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 Raffensperger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raffensperger in America

Raffensperger is the 54296th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raffensperger surname appeared 380 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Raffensperger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raffensperger 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 Raffensperger

The surname Raffensperger has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 16th century. The name is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, specifically in the town of Raffenspergen near Nuremberg. The name is derived from the Old German words "raffe," meaning "to grasp" or "to seize," and "sperge," meaning "a small branch," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with branches or twigs, perhaps a basket weaver or a forester.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Raffensperger name can be found in the town records of Raffenspergen, where a certain Hans Raffensperger is mentioned as a landowner in the year 1568. The name also appears in various church records and tax registers from the 16th and 17th centuries in the surrounding areas of Franconia and Swabia.

In the 18th century, the Raffensperger family spread to other parts of Germany, with some members settling in the Palatinate region and others migrating to Switzerland. One notable figure from this period was Johann Raffensperger (1712-1778), a respected clockmaker from the town of Ansbach, whose intricate timepieces were highly prized by the local nobility.

As the 19th century dawned, many Raffenspergers began to emigrate from Europe to the United States, seeking new opportunities and a better life. One of the earliest arrivals was Michael Raffensperger (1796-1872), who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1820s and became a successful farmer. Another prominent individual was Friedrich Raffensperger (1818-1901), a skilled woodcarver who emigrated to Ohio in the 1840s and gained recognition for his intricate furniture and architectural embellishments.

The name Raffensperger also gained recognition in the field of academia and science. August Raffensperger (1836-1919) was a renowned botanist and professor at the University of Heidelberg, known for his groundbreaking research on plant genetics. His contemporary, Karl Raffensperger (1842-1908), was a pioneering engineer who played a crucial role in the development of early steam engines and locomotives.

Throughout its long history, the Raffensperger surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from skilled craftsmen and farmers to academics and scientists. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its German roots and the possible connection to basket weaving or forestry remain an intriguing part of its heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raffensperger

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

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

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

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