2000
#119,644
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 134
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Teppo
A Finnish surname derived from the nickname "Teppo", referring to someone with an energetic or spirited nature.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 163 Americans carry the last name Teppo. That puts it at #126,357 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,102,787 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Teppo 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
163
1 in 2,102,787
Census rank
#126,357
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
142
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 142 bearers of the surname Teppo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 126357th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Teppo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Teppo
The surname Teppo is of Finnish origin, with records showing its existence from the early 17th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "tepponen," which refers to a small, brightly colored bird, likely a type of finch or sparrow. This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a small stature or a cheerful, lively demeanor.
The earliest known record of the name Teppo dates back to 1624 in the parish records of Turku, Finland. At the time, it was spelled "Tepponen," which was a common variation in the early years. The name gained popularity in the coastal regions of southwestern Finland, particularly in the provinces of Varsinais-Suomi and Satakunta.
In the 1700s, the name Teppo appeared in several historical documents, including court records and land deeds. One notable mention was in the 1762 military records of the Swedish-Finnish army, where a soldier named Matts Teppo was listed as serving in the Västgöta Regiment during the Pomeranian War.
As the name spread across Finland, variations in spelling emerged, such as Tepponen, Tepponnen, and Teppanen. These regional variations were often influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.
Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Teppo was Juho Teppo, a farmer born in 1756 in the village of Loimaa, Finland. His son, Kustaa Teppo (1798-1872), was a renowned woodcarver and craftsman, whose works can still be found in local museums and churches.
In the 19th century, several Teppos made their mark in various fields. Antti Teppo (1819-1891) was a prominent Lutheran minister and writer, known for his religious texts and sermons. His contemporary, Mikko Teppo (1825-1899), was a respected teacher and school principal who played a significant role in promoting education in rural areas.
Another notable figure was Liisa Teppo (1867-1942), a pioneering journalist and advocate for women's rights. She was one of the first female journalists in Finland and used her platform to campaign for gender equality and social reform.
As the name spread beyond Finland's borders, it found its way to other Nordic countries and North America through immigration. One of the earliest known Teppos in the United States was Johan Teppo, who arrived in Minnesota in the late 19th century and became a successful farmer and landowner.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples showcase the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname Teppo over the centuries, contributing to the cultural tapestry of Finland and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Teppo
Among Census respondents with the surname Teppo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Teppo 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 Teppo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3% · 131
- Two or more races4.9% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.1% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.7% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Teppo
Teppo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#121,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 142
+8 bearers (+6.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 1,946 places
2020
#126,357
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 142
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 4,767 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #119,644 | 134 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #121,590 | 142 | 0.05 | +8 bearers (+6.0%) | Down 1,946 places |
| 2020 | #126,357 | 142 | 0.05 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 4,767 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 Teppo 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 | #121,590 | #126,357 | -3.9% |
| Count | 142 | 142 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | -5.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Teppo bearers went from 142 to 142 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 4,767 positions in the national ranking, going from #121,590 to #126,357.
FAQ
Teppo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Teppo?
Name Census estimates that about 163 living Americans carry the surname Teppo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,102,787 residents.
How common is Teppo?
Teppo ranks #126,357 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 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 142 people with the surname Teppo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (163), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 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 Teppo.
Has Teppo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Teppo went from 142 recorded bearers to 142. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #121,590 to #126,357.
What does the Census say about the background of Teppo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Teppo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.1%). 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 Teppo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.3% (131 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Teppo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.3%), Two or More Races (4.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.1%). 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 Teppo (2000, 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 Teppo mean?
A Finnish surname derived from the nickname "Teppo", referring to someone with an energetic or spirited nature. 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 Teppo (0.05 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 Teppo?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.