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

Topaz, 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 Topaz surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Topaz in America

Topaz is the 133114th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Topaz surname appeared 117 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Topaz.

The history of the last name Topaz

The surname Topaz is relatively rare and has its origins intricately linked with the gemology of ancient civilizations. Predominantly believed to have originated from Eastern Europe, the name Topaz is derived from the precious gemstone, which has been highly regarded for centuries. The name itself likely stems from the Ancient Greek "topazion" or the Latin "topazius," which both refer to the gemstone. The name Topaz may also find roots in the Sanskrit use of "tapaz," meaning fire, alluding to the brilliance of the gem.

Historical references to the surname Topaz are somewhat scarce, largely because it is not a common surname and has been more associated with the gemstone. Yet, its unique status means it often stands out in historical documents. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Topaz can be traced back to a manuscript from the late 17th century in Poland, where a family borrowed the name likely due to the symbolic significance tied to wealth and beauty.

One of the notable mentions of individuals with the surname Topaz is Jan Topaz, born in 1714 in Kraków, Poland, who was a merchant dealing in precious stones, a fitting profession aligning with his surname. In the 18th century, another individual, Miriam Topaz, born in 1743, was notable for her written works on natural history, suggesting that the name carried a certain scholarly association.

In Russia, the name Topaz appeared in historical records with Aleksei Topaz, born in 1821, who was a minor noble known for his collection of gems and minerals, a passion that might have influenced or complemented his last name. Another recorded instance was in Galicia with Jakob Topaz, born 1850, who was involved in the academic circles and contributed to geologic studies, further cementing the association between the name and the world of natural sciences.

The Topaz surname can also be found sporadically in historical records in France during the 19th century, notably with Lucien Topaz, born in 1873 in Lyon, who was an artist and jeweler, often incorporating actual topaz stones into his designs, thus making a living representation of his name through his craft.

Although the surname Topaz does not frequently appear in historical records, the instances where it does are often associated with professions related to precious stones or academic pursuits in natural sciences. This unique surname carries rich historical significance, rooted deeply in the allure and brilliance of the gemstone from which it derives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Topaz

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Topaz 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 Topaz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!