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

Tapp, 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 Tapp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tapp in America

Tapp is the 5619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tapp surname appeared 6,186 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tapp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tapp 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 Tapp

The surname Tapp is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "tæppa," meaning "tap" or "spigot." This suggests that the name may have been occupational, referring to someone who worked with taps or spigots, perhaps in the brewing or winemaking industry.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tapp can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which lists a person named William Tappe. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327, with a reference to a John Tappe.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Tapp was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire, possibly indicating a geographic concentration of the name's origins. Variations in spelling, such as Tappe, Tappes, and Tapper, were also common during this time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Tapp surname was John Tapp, who was born in Gloucester around 1450. Records indicate that he served as a member of the city's council and held various positions of authority within the local government.

Another notable figure was Robert Tapp, a wealthy merchant from Bristol, born in 1520. He was a prominent member of the city's mercantile community and played a significant role in the trading and export of wool and cloth.

In the 17th century, the Tapp surname gained further recognition with the birth of John Tapp (1631-1692), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He served as the Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford and made significant contributions to the fields of optics and celestial mechanics.

Another individual of historical importance was Sir George Tapp (1773-1853), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. He earned several honors for his bravery and leadership, including being appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

Lastly, mention should be made of Reverend Thomas Tapp (1805-1880), an influential Anglican clergyman and author. He served as the Vicar of Farningham in Kent and wrote several theological works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

While the surname Tapp may have originated as an occupational name, it has since become widely dispersed throughout England and beyond, with many individuals bearing this name making notable contributions to various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tapp

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

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

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

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