Explore the Family Name Potempa
The meaning of Potempa
Polish: variant of Potępa, a nickname from a derivative of potępić ‘to condemn’, applied either to a very judgmental person or to someone who was condemned.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Potempa in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Potempa has seen a slight decrease in popularity over the years. In 2000, it ranked 39,678 in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped slightly to rank 41,164—a change of -3.75%. However, the number of individuals with this surname increased marginally from 521 in 2000 to 529 in 2010, representing a growth of 1.54%. Despite this small rise in count, the relative proportion of people with the surname Potempa per 100,000 residents decreased by -5.26%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,678 | #41,164 | -3.75% |
| Count | 521 | 529 | 1.54% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.18 | -5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Potempa
The ethnicity breakdown of the surname Potempa also presents an interesting picture, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. The majority of individuals with the surname identify as White, accounting for 97.12% in 2000 and 95.46% in 2010 – indicating a slight decrease of -1.71%. Notably, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Hispanic, with this group growing from 1.15% in 2000 to 2.84% in 2010, a change of 146.96%. There was also the introduction of individuals identifying with two or more races in 2010, which was not present in the 2000 data. No individuals with the surname Potempa identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.12% | 95.46% | -1.71% |
| Hispanic | 1.15% | 2.84% | 146.96% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.13% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |