Barthelmess
Of German origin, meaning the son of Bartholomew.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Barthelmess. That puts it at #88,685 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Barthelmess 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#88,685
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
209
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 209 bearers of the surname Barthelmess in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 88685th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Barthelmess, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Barthelmess
The surname Barthelmess originated in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Bartholomaeus, which was a common name among medieval Christians and comes from the Aramaic bar-Talmay, meaning "son of the furrows" or "son of the fertile lands."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Barthelmess can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, where a person named Bartolmeus is mentioned in a document dated 1284. Another early reference is found in the Würzburg municipal records from 1383, which list a Bartholomeus Henchin.
The Barthelmess surname is believed to have originated in the region of Franconia, which is now part of modern-day Bavaria, Germany. In the 14th century, a notable individual named Hans Barthelmess was recorded as a citizen of Nuremberg, a prominent city in Franconia.
Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Bartholmes, Bartelmess, and Bartholomäus. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Barthelmess was Johann Barthelmess, a German painter and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1519. He is recognized for his contributions to the Northern Renaissance art movement.
Another notable figure in history was Johann Barthelmess von Drachstedt (1558-1624), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Reformation movement in the Electorate of Saxony.
In the 19th century, Carl Barthelmess (1811-1889) was a German-American military officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was awarded the rank of brevet brigadier general.
The name Barthelmess also gained recognition in the early 20th century with Richard Barthelmess (1895-1963), an American actor and film producer who starred in numerous silent films and early talkies, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Finally, one cannot overlook Mary Hayden Barthelmess (1910-1975), an American socialite and philanthropist who was known for her activism in various social and political causes, including women's rights and civil rights.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Barthelmess
Among Census respondents with the surname Barthelmess, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Barthelmess 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 Barthelmess surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Barthelmess 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 | #88,685 | #88,685 | 0.0% |
| Count | 209 | 209 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Barthelmess bearers went from 209 to 209 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #88,685 to #88,685.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Barthelmess
FAQ
Barthelmess surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Barthelmess?
The surname Barthelmess holds position #88,685 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Barthelmess surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Barthelmess, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%). 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.