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

Terpenning, 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 Terpenning surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terpenning in America

Terpenning is the 72568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terpenning surname appeared 268 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 Terpenning.

We can also compare 2010 data for Terpenning 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 Terpenning

The surname Terpenning has its origins in the Low German language and is believed to have originated in the northern regions of present-day Germany and the Netherlands during the medieval period. It is derived from the old Low German word "terpenne," which referred to a type of small barrel or keg used for storing liquids, particularly tar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the historical records of the city of Lübeck, located in northern Germany, dated back to the 14th century. These records mention an individual named Hinrik Terpennynge, who was a member of the local artisan guild responsible for the production and trade of tar and related products.

As the name suggests, the Terpenning family may have been initially associated with the production or trade of tar and related materials, which were essential commodities during that time for various purposes, such as waterproofing ships and preserving timber.

In the 16th century, the name is mentioned in the historical records of the Dutch city of Rotterdam, where a certain Johannes Terpenninck is recorded as a prominent merchant and burgher of the city.

As the family spread across different regions, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Terpening, Terpening, and Terpenning emerging. One notable individual bearing this name was Pieter Terpenning (1588-1668), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre paintings.

Another prominent figure was Johann Terpenning (1645-1712), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) of the court of the Duke of Saxe-Eisenach.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Terpenning name can be found in various records across the Low Countries and northern Germany, indicating the family's continued presence and involvement in various trades and professions.

One of the earliest known instances of the name in North America is that of Johannes Terpenning, who immigrated to Pennsylvania from the Palatinate region of Germany in the early 18th century, settling in what is now Berks County.

Throughout its history, the surname Terpenning has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse paths taken by members of this family across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terpenning

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

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

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

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