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

Topping, 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 Topping surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Topping in America

Topping is the 9496th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Topping surname appeared 3,423 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 Topping.

We can also compare 2010 data for Topping 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 Topping

The surname Topping has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "topping," which referred to a person who lived at the top of a hill or a high point. This occupational surname would have initially been used to identify someone's place of residence or work.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Topping surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a person named William Topping is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname Topping in various counties across England.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various forms, including Toppinge, Toppyng, and Toppynge, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. These variations often corresponded to regional dialects and local pronunciations.

The Topping surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was John Topping, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Topping, a renowned painter born in 1625 who was known for his portraits and landscapes.

In the 18th century, the Topping family gained prominence in the county of Lancashire. Sir Samuel Topping, born in 1742, was a successful businessman and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1793. His son, also named Samuel Topping, continued the family's legacy and became a respected member of the local gentry.

Another individual of note was William Topping, who was born in 1793 and became a prominent figure in the field of mathematics and astronomy. He served as the Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1848 until his death in 1876.

While the Topping surname is predominantly English in origin, it has also been found in other parts of the British Isles and has spread to various regions through migration and settlement. The name has maintained its presence over the centuries, with various branches of the Topping family contributing to the rich tapestry of history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Topping

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

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

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

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