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

Topp, 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 Topp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Topp in America

Topp is the 12121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Topp surname appeared 2,572 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 Topp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Topp 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 Topp

The surname Topp is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "top" or "topp," which means "hilltop" or "summit." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived on or near a hilltop or a prominent elevated location.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Topp can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are entries for individuals with the surname Topp, such as William del Topp and Robert del Topp.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Topp was also found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327, where a Richard atte Toppe is mentioned. The "atte" prefix was commonly used at the time to indicate a location or descriptive name.

One noteworthy individual bearing the surname Topp was Sir William Topp, a renowned English lawyer and judge who lived during the 16th century (c. 1512 - 1572). He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and played a significant role in legal matters during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Nicholas Topp, an English clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1570 - 1640). He served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and was a respected scholar and theologian of his time.

In the 17th century, the surname Topp was also found in various parts of Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Tope" or "Topt." One notable Scottish individual with this surname was George Tope (c. 1630 - 1670), a merchant and burgess of Aberdeen.

The surname Topp has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Topp's Green in Hertfordshire and Topp's Farm in Lincolnshire. These place names likely originated from individuals or families bearing the surname Topp who resided in those areas.

Throughout history, the surname Topp has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, lawyers, merchants, and landowners. While the surname may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, with its origins rooted in the old descriptive naming practices of medieval times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Topp

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

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

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

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