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

Tarpeh, 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 Tarpeh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarpeh in America

Tarpeh is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarpeh surname appeared 260 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 Tarpeh.

The history of the last name Tarpeh

The surname TARPEH originated in Liberia, a country on the west coast of Africa. It is believed to have emerged during the late 18th or early 19th century, when the first settlers from the United States arrived in what would become the colony of Liberia.

TARPEH is thought to be derived from the Kru language spoken by the indigenous people of Liberia's southeastern region. The name may have roots in the Kru word "tarpe," which means "leader" or "chief." As the settlers interacted with the local population, they likely adopted or adapted this word as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TARPEH surname can be found in the archives of the American Colonization Society, which oversaw the establishment of the Liberian colony. In the society's records from the 1820s, there are references to a man named Samuel TARPEH, who was among the first settlers to arrive in Liberia.

Another notable early bearer of the TARPEH name was Joseph TARPEH, a prominent figure in Liberian politics during the mid-19th century. He served as a member of the House of Representatives and played a significant role in shaping the country's early governance.

In the late 19th century, the TARPEH surname gained further prominence when Hilary TARPEH became one of the first Liberian students to study in the United States. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and later returned to Liberia, where he worked as an educator and administrator.

One of the most well-known individuals with the TARPEH surname was William V.S. TARPEH, who lived from 1905 to 1982. He was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Vice President of Liberia from 1952 to 1960, under President William V.S. Tubman.

Another notable figure was Albert TARPEH, a renowned Liberian writer and scholar who was born in 1927. His works explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues in Liberia, and he played a significant role in promoting and preserving the country's literary heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarpeh

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

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 Tarpeh 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.

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

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

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