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

Turpin, 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 Turpin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Turpin in America

Turpin is the 3005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Turpin surname appeared 11,937 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Turpin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Turpin 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 Turpin

The surname Turpin originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "torpiner," which means "to turn" or "to twist." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a turner or woodworker, shaping objects on a lathe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Turpin can be found in various medieval documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in this record, suggesting that individuals bearing the surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Turpin was Richard Turpin, a notorious English highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739. He gained notoriety for his daring exploits and became the subject of numerous stories and legends, further popularizing the name.

Another notable figure with the surname Turpin was François-René Turpin, a French botanist and artist who lived from 1780 to 1856. He is renowned for his intricate and beautifully detailed illustrations of plants, which were published in various scientific works.

In the literary world, Cyril Turpin was a British author and playwright who lived from 1897 to 1970. He wrote several successful plays, including "Billie," which was later adapted into a film.

The surname Turpin also has connections to the military. Sir Thomas Turpin was a British Army officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant-General and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath for his distinguished service.

Another individual of historical significance was Pierre Turpin, a French Catholic priest and theologian who lived from 1512 to 1584. He played a prominent role in the Counter-Reformation and was known for his writings on ecclesiastical law and doctrine.

The surname Turpin has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its diverse origins and the varied paths taken by those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Turpin

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

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

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

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