Explore the Family Name Peffer
The meaning of Peffer
1. German: variant of Pfeffer. This name is found in the Rhine-Nassau area. 2. Scottish: topographic name from Peffer, the name of several small streams in Ross and Cromarty, Angus, Perths, East Lothian, and Midlothian. The stream-name derives from Cumbric or Pictish pevr ‘radiant, beautiful’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Peffer in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Peffer has seen a slight decrease over the last decade. In 2000, Peffer ranked as the 16,302nd most common surname, but by 2010, it had slipped to 17,323rd place, reflecting a 6.26 percent drop in rank. Despite this decline in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Peffer surname increased slightly from 1,627 in 2000 to 1,632 in 2010, an increase of 0.31 percent. As a proportion per 100k of the population, however, the prevalence of the Peffer surname decreased by 8.33 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,302 | #17,323 | -6.26% |
| Count | 1,627 | 1,632 | 0.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.6 | 0.55 | -8.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Peffer
In terms of ethnic identity, the Peffer surname shows a predominance of White heritage according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In both 2000 and 2010, approximately 95 percent of people named Peffer identified as White, with only a minor decrease of 0.37 percent over the decade. There was a notable decrease in the percentage of Asian/ Pacific Islanders with this surname, falling from 1.17 percent in 2000 to 0.86 percent in 2010. Meanwhile, those identifying as two or more races increased significantly, from 1.11 percent in 2000 to 1.78 percent in 2010. The Hispanic representation among Peffers saw a modest increase, from 1.54 percent in 2000 to 1.59 percent in 2010. There were no reported instances of the Peffer surname among Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native populations during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.82% | 95.47% | -0.37% |
| Two or More Races | 1.11% | 1.78% | 60.36% |
| Hispanic | 1.54% | 1.59% | 3.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.17% | 0.86% | -26.5% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |