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

Ackerknecht, 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 Ackerknecht surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ackerknecht in America

Ackerknecht is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ackerknecht surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ackerknecht.

The history of the last name Ackerknecht

The surname Ackerknecht has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Middle High German words "acker," meaning field, and "knecht," meaning servant or farmhand. Essentially, Ackerknecht translates to "field servant" or "plowman," indicating an occupational surname for those who worked the fields.

The name Ackerknecht appears in various historical records from regions like Bavaria and Swabia, which were prominent agricultural areas during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest known references to the surname can be found in a tax register from 1320 in the Swabian town of Ulm. Here, a Johann Ackerknecht is documented as a field worker, underlining the surname's occupational roots.

In another historical instance, the Ackerknecht name surfaces in the 14th-century annals of Augsburg, where Hans Ackerknecht is listed as a member of the local guild of farm laborers. The guild records indicate that he held a significant position within the community, further illustrating the importance of agriculture in shaping the identity and societal standing of those with the Ackerknecht surname.

Arnold Ackerknecht, born in 1510 in Nuremberg, became a notable figure in the realm of early agrarian reform. His proposals for crop rotation and soil fertilization were revolutionary for the time and are documented in several agricultural treatises. These manuscripts are preserved in the Bavarian State Library and offer a glimpse into the innovative spirit carried by bearers of the surname.

In the 18th century, Matthias Ackerknecht, born in 1745 in Stuttgart, gained prominence as a land surveyor and agronomist. His detailed maps and agricultural surveys contributed significantly to the development of modern farming techniques. The town of Ackersfeld, named in his honor, still bears testament to his contributions.

By the 19th century, the surname had increasingly spread beyond its German origins. Karl Friedrich Ackerknecht, born in 1820, migrated to Switzerland and became a well-known botanist. His extensive work on alpine plants earned him recognition in scientific circles, and several alpine species are named after him.

Throughout history, the Ackerknecht surname has been associated with agricultural expertise and innovation. While its roots are firmly planted in medieval German farmlands, it has branched out across professions and regions, leaving an enduring legacy in various fields. The name remains a testament to the hardworking and inventive spirit of its bearers, shaping both local history and broader agricultural advancements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ackerknecht

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ackerknecht 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!