Explore the Family Name Karp
The meaning of Karp
1. German, Polish, and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from Middle High German karp(f)e, Middle Low German karpe, or Slavic (Russian and Polish) and Yiddish karp ‘carp’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a carp fisherman or seller of these fish, or a nickname for someone thought to resemble the fish. As a Jewish surname it is often artificial. 2. Polish, Ukrainian, and German: from the personal name Karp, a shortened vernacular form of Latin Polycarpus, Greek Polykarpos ‘fruitful’ (see Polycarpe). Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Chaim, Isadore, Abbe, Aron, Avrum, Cyla, Eliyahu, Ephraim, Golde, Hyman.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Karp in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Karp has moderately decreased in rank from 2000 to 2010, dropping from 5914 to 6143, a change of -3.87%. However, the actual count of individuals with the surname increased by 4.07%, rising from 5359 to 5577 over the same period. This indicates that while Karp became less common as a surname ranking, there are more people named Karp in 2010 compared to 2000. The proportion per 100k also dipped by -5.03% suggesting that the growth of the Karp surname did not keep pace with the overall population increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,914 | #6,143 | -3.87% |
| Count | 5,359 | 5,577 | 4.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.99 | 1.89 | -5.03% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Karp
The ethnic identity associated with the Karp surname showed some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of individuals with this surname identified as White, constituting 94.84% in 2010, down slightly from 96.25% in 2000. The Hispanic ethnicity saw the most significant increase, surging by 77.78% to 2.56% in 2010 from 1.44% in 2000. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races also saw increases of 29.31% and 53.57% respectively. The proportion of individuals identifying as Black, however, decreased by 48% during this decade. The American Indian and Alaskan Native group remained relatively stable with a slight increase of 6.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.25% | 94.84% | -1.46% |
| Hispanic | 1.44% | 2.56% | 77.78% |
| Two or More Races | 0.84% | 1.29% | 53.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.58% | 0.75% | 29.31% |
| Black | 0.75% | 0.39% | -48% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.15% | 0.16% | 6.67% |
Karp ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Karp is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 44.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (18.5%) and French & German (15.0%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Scandinavian, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 44.4% |
| British & Irish | 18.5% |
| French & German | 15.0% |
| Other | 22.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Karp
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Karp have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 43.40% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 43.40% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 43.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 42.90% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 42.90% |
What Karp haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Karp is J-L210, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup J-L210 is descended from haplogroup J-M304. Other common haplogroups include R-Z381 and J-P58, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Klein, Schwartz, Frank, Solomon, Stein, Goldberg, Weiss, Berger, Jacobs, Simon.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Karp surname are: K1a1b1a, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins J-M304Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Karp have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Karp" Surname 42.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Karp" Surname 21.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Karp" Surname 21.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Karp" Surname 19.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Karp?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Karp are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition