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

Aleman, 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 Aleman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aleman in America

Aleman is the 1571st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aleman surname appeared 22,927 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Aleman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aleman to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aleman

The surname Aleman has its origins in Germany, emerging during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "alamann," which means "all man" or "entire man." This term was used to refer to the Alemanni, an ancient Germanic tribal confederation that settled in the areas of present-day southern Germany, northern Switzerland, and eastern France.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Aleman can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of documents from the Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland, dating back to the 8th century. The name is mentioned in connection with various landholdings and property transactions involving individuals from the Alemanni tribe.

During the High Middle Ages, the Aleman surname appeared in various records across the Holy Roman Empire. Notably, it was documented in the Liber Censuum, a papal record of taxation and landholdings compiled in the 13th century. This suggests that individuals bearing the Aleman surname held significant possessions and influence during that period.

In the 14th century, the Aleman name gained prominence with the birth of Johannes Aleman (1360-1432), a renowned German theologian and scholar. He was a prominent figure at the Council of Constance, which aimed to resolve the Western Schism within the Catholic Church.

Another notable figure was Gaspar Aleman (1550-1615), a Spanish author and soldier known for his picaresque novel "The Life of Guzman de Alfarache." This work, published in 1599, is considered a masterpiece of Spanish literature and a significant contribution to the picaresque genre.

In England, the surname Aleman can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating individuals bearing this name migrated from the Low Countries (present-day Belgium and the Netherlands). One such individual was Sir Thomas Aleman (1575-1654), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset.

During the 17th century, the Aleman surname gained prominence in the Dutch Republic with the birth of Rembrandt van Rijn's wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642). Her maiden name, van Uylenburgh, is a variation of the Aleman surname, derived from the Dutch town of Uilenburg (formerly known as Alemansburgh).

In the 18th century, the Aleman surname appeared in various records across Europe, including France, where Jean-Jacques Aleman (1743-1810) was a prominent military officer who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout its history, the surname Aleman has been associated with various prominent individuals, reflecting its widespread presence across Europe and its deep roots in the ancient Alemanni tribe. While the name's spelling has evolved over time, its connection to the Germanic heritage and the medieval period remains a significant part of its rich etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aleman

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Aleman 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aleman has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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