Stapleton
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a post, pillar, or boundary marker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 21,285 Americans carry the last name Stapleton. That puts it at #1,973 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 16,103 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stapleton surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
21K
1 in 16,103
Census rank
#1,973
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
18K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 18,332 bearers of the surname Stapleton in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1973rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stapleton, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stapleton
The surname Stapleton is an English habitational name derived from the Old English words "stapol" meaning a post or pillar, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name originated from someone who lived near a prominent post or boundary marker.
The name can be traced back to the 11th century and the Norman Conquest of England. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions several places called Stapleton in various counties, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Leicestershire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1176, where a Richard de Stapleton is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the 12th century.
In the 13th century, a prominent member of the Stapleton family was Sir Miles de Stapleton, who served as a knight and fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under King Edward I. He was born around 1260 and died in 1314.
The Stapletons were a notable family in Yorkshire, and their ancestral seat was at Stapleton Park, near Pontefract. One of the most famous members of this branch was Sir Bryan Stapleton, who was born in 1335 and served as a military commander during the Hundred Years' War.
Another notable figure was Walter Stapleton, who was born in 1472 and served as the Bishop of Exeter and Lord Treasurer of England under King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and the dissolution of monasteries.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Sir Philip Stapleton was a prominent Parliamentarian and served as a member of the Council of State. He was born in 1603 and died in 1647.
The Stapleton name has also been associated with various place names, such as Stapleton in Bristol, which was originally a separate village but is now a suburb of the city. The name has also been recorded in various spellings, such as Stapilton and Stapulton, in historical records.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stapleton
Among Census respondents with the surname Stapleton, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Stapleton bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Stapleton surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.9%
- Black or African American9.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stapleton surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,973 | #1,973 | 0.0% |
| Count | 18,332 | 18,332 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.21 | 6.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Stapleton bearers went from 18,332 to 18,332 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,973 to #1,973.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stapleton
FAQ
Stapleton surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stapleton?
The surname Stapleton holds position #1,973 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 21,285 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stapleton surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stapleton, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.