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

Vorpahl, 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 Vorpahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vorpahl in America

Vorpahl is the 38640th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vorpahl surname appeared 572 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 Vorpahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vorpahl 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 Vorpahl

The surname VORPAHL is of German origin, stemming from the northern regions of the country during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the old German words "vor" meaning "before" and "pahl" meaning "stake" or "pole." This combination likely referred to a location or landmark near a boundary marker or fence post.

One of the earliest known references to the name VORPAHL can be found in the Hanseatic records of the 13th century, where a merchant named Hans Vorpahl is documented as trading goods along the Baltic Sea coast. This suggests the name's prominence in the maritime regions of northern Germany during that time.

In the 15th century, a historical record from the town of Lübeck mentions a family by the name of Vorpahl residing in the area. This document provides insight into the name's geographical spread and establishment in the region.

During the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Johann Vorpahl (1639-1718), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Rostock. His works on theology and philosophy were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual with the surname VORPAHL was Friedrich Vorpahl (1804-1872), a German politician and writer who played a significant role in the revolutionary movements of the mid-19th century. He was a vocal advocate for democratic reforms and authored several influential political tracts.

In the 19th century, the name VORPAHL appeared in various records from the Mecklenburg region of northern Germany. One such record from 1853 mentions a village called Vorpahlen, which likely derived its name from the surname itself, indicating a place of settlement for the family.

The VORPAHL surname was also found in the historical records of the city of Hamburg. In 1892, a prominent businessman named Wilhelm Vorpahl (1842-1912) established a successful trading company that dealt in goods imported from the Americas.

Another notable figure was Else Vorpahl (1876-1942), a German painter and sculptor who gained recognition for her expressionist works during the early 20th century. Her art was exhibited in several prestigious galleries across Europe.

While the name VORPAHL originated in northern Germany, it eventually spread to other parts of the country and beyond, as families migrated and settled in new regions over the centuries. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period and the coastal areas of northern Germany, where it first emerged as a distinct surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vorpahl

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

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

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

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