Bachmann
An occupational surname referring to a ferryman or boatman who transported goods or people across a body of water.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,073 Americans carry the last name Bachmann. That puts it at #7,601 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.48 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 67,564 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bachmann surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.1K
1 in 67,564
Census rank
#7,601
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,372 bearers of the surname Bachmann in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.48 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7601st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bachmann, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bachmann
The surname Bachmann is of German origin, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old High German word "bach," which means "stream" or "brook," and the word "mann," which means "man." Thus, the name Bachmann likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bachmann can be found in various medieval records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, Germany.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Bachmann was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where many small streams and brooks were found. Over time, the name spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring countries, such as Austria and Switzerland.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Bachmann was Johann Bachmann (c. 1420-1492), a German composer and organist who lived in the 15th century. He is known for his contributions to the development of early Renaissance music.
Another notable figure was Philipp Bachmann (1604-1670), a German theologian and philosopher from Saxony. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and wrote extensively on topics related to theology and ethics.
In the 18th century, Johann Christian Bachmann (1732-1808) was a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraiture. He worked in Dresden and was a member of the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts.
Moving into the 19th century, Karl Friedrich Bachmann (1785-1855) was a German botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification.
More recently, Ingeborg Bachmann (1926-1973) was an Austrian poet and author who is considered one of the most influential figures in German-language literature of the 20th century. Her works explored themes of identity, memory, and the aftermath of World War II.
Throughout its history, the surname Bachmann has been associated with various place names, such as Bachmanning in Bavaria, and Bachmannsfeld in Saxony, which likely derived their names from the presence of streams or brooks in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bachmann
Among Census respondents with the surname Bachmann, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Bachmann bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bachmann surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bachmann surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,601 | #7,601 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,372 | 4,372 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.48 | 1.48 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bachmann bearers went from 4,372 to 4,372 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,601 to #7,601.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bachmann
FAQ
Bachmann surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bachmann?
The surname Bachmann holds position #7,601 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,073 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.48 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bachmann surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bachmann, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.