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

Schaper, 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 Schaper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schaper in America

Schaper is the 12435th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schaper surname appeared 2,498 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 Schaper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schaper 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 Schaper

The surname Schaper has its origins in Germany, where it first appeared in the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German word "schapare," which means "to create" or "to make." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a craftsman or artisan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Schaper name dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Henricus Schaper was mentioned in a document from the city of Lübeck in northern Germany. Around the same time, the name also appeared in records from the region of Westphalia, indicating that it was already well-established in different parts of the country.

During the 14th century, the Schaper name was found in various manuscripts and legal documents from the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. This suggests that some Schapers may have been involved in trade or commerce during this period.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Schaper was the German theologian and reformer Johannes Schaper (1499-1570). He was a follower of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in the region of Saxony.

Another notable Schaper was the German painter and etcher Johann Schaper (1621-1670), who was known for his landscapes and biblical scenes. His works can still be found in various museums and collections across Europe.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the Schaper surname was the German sculptor and artist Rudolf Schaper (1833-1894). He was a prominent figure in the Prussian art world and created several monumental works, including the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm III in Berlin.

Other notable Schapers throughout history include the German author and playwright Edzard Schaper (1908-1984), known for his novels and plays set in rural Westphalia, and the Dutch-American physicist Dirk Schaper (1931-2018), who made significant contributions to the field of semiconductor physics and electronics.

While the Schaper name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schaper

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

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

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

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