2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Taplett
A habitational name transferred from a place named with Old English tæppel "plant" combined with a diminutive suffix.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Taplett. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Taplett 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.
Bearers in the US
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Taplett in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Taplett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Taplett
The surname Taplett is of English origin, with its roots traceable back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from the ancient English village of Taplow, located in the county of Buckinghamshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "tæppa" and "hlaw," which together translate to "hill with a tap or spring."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Taplett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tappelawa." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings throughout England.
During the 13th century, the name Taplett appeared in various forms, including "Tappelegh" and "Tappeleye," reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribes' interpretations.
In the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of William Taplett (c. 1320-1387), a renowned scholar and theologian at Oxford University. His contributions to the study of canon law and ecclesiastical history earned him recognition among his contemporaries.
Another notable figure bearing the Taplett surname was John Taplett (1565-1638), a successful merchant and landowner in the city of London. His business ventures and investments in property left a lasting impact on the city's economic landscape during the Elizabethan era.
The 17th century witnessed the rise of Sir Henry Taplett (1623-1692), a prominent military commander who served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. His valor and leadership on the battlefield earned him knighthood and a reputation as a skilled strategist.
In the realm of literature, the name Taplett gained recognition through the works of the esteemed playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. In his play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," one of the characters, Master Taplett, makes a brief appearance, indicating the familiarity of the surname during the Elizabethan period.
The 19th century saw the birth of Mary Taplett (1837-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. Her efforts to establish educational opportunities for young women in rural areas left a lasting legacy in the field of education.
Throughout its history, the surname Taplett has been associated with various professions, from academics and merchants to military leaders and social reformers. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient village of Taplow, where the name first took root and evolved over the centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of English history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Taplett
Among Census respondents with the surname Taplett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Taplett 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 Taplett surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.3% · 66
- Black or African American31.1% · 33
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Taplett
Taplett appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+4 bearers (+3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,093 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.9%) | Up 6,093 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 Taplett 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 | #158,432 | #152,339 | 3.8% |
| Count | 102 | 106 | 3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 18.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Taplett bearers went from 102 to 106 (+3.9% change). The surname moved up 6,093 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #152,339.
FAQ
Taplett surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Taplett?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Taplett. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Taplett?
Taplett ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 106 people with the surname Taplett. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Taplett.
Has Taplett become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Taplett went from 102 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 4 (+3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Taplett?
Among Census respondents with the surname Taplett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.8%). 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 Taplett in the 2020 Census, accounting for 62.3% (66 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Taplett appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (62.3%), Black (31.1%), Hispanic (3.8%). 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 Taplett (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 Taplett mean?
A habitational name transferred from a place named with Old English tæppel "plant" combined with a diminutive suffix. 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 Taplett (0.04 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 people share the surname Taplett?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.