Explore the Family Name Taper
The meaning of Taper
English (Middlesex and Cornwall): from Middle English taper(e) ‘taper (a kind of long thin candle)’, Old English tapor, probably a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or sold tapers, or possibly a nickname for a tall, thin person. There may have been some confusion with Tapper.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Taper in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Taper' has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 'Taper' was ranked 52,289th most common surname and by 2010 it had risen to the 50,275th position, showing a growth rate of 3.85%. Similarly, the count of people with this surname grew from 373 to 416, an increase of 11.53% over the decade. The proportion per 100k people remained stable at 0.14.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,289 | #50,275 | 3.85% |
| Count | 373 | 416 | 11.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Taper
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some changes over the same period. The number of Tapers identifying as White decreased slightly from 29.76% in 2000 to 27.40% in 2010. The Black population saw a small decline from 65.95% to 64.66%, while those identifying as having two or more races increased from 2.41% to 3.13%. There was a significant rise in the Hispanic population, which doubled from 1.88% to 3.85%. No Tapers identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 65.95% | 64.66% | -1.96% |
| White | 29.76% | 27.4% | -7.93% |
| Hispanic | 1.88% | 3.85% | 104.79% |
| Two or More Races | 2.41% | 3.13% | 29.88% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |