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

Tarpley, 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 Tarpley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarpley in America

Tarpley is the 8896th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarpley surname appeared 3,680 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 Tarpley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarpley 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 Tarpley

The surname Tarpley is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has changed over time. Some sources suggest it may be connected to the Old English words "tarp" meaning a piece of coarse cloth or tarpaulin, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tarpley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the name itself is not listed, variations like "de Tarpeleye" and "atte Tarpeleye" appear, suggesting the name may have originated from a small village or hamlet known as Tarpley.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family with the name Tarpley residing in the county of Lancashire. One notable individual from this era was William Tarpley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273 for his involvement in a legal dispute over land.

During the 16th century, the Tarpley surname began to spread across England, with families settling in various counties such as Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. In 1589, a John Tarpley was recorded as a landowner in the parish of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Tarpley was Sir George Tarpley (1597-1672), a renowned English lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer. He played a significant role in the legal proceedings during the English Civil War and was known for his impartiality and fair rulings.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Tarpley (1732-1804), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership in several battles and was eventually promoted to the rank of Admiral.

In the 19th century, the Tarpley surname continued to spread throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, with some families emigrating to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One such individual was William Tarpley (1819-1895), a British-born explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the American West.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarpley

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

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

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

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