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

Bélinger, 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 Bélinger surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Bélinger in America

Bélinger is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bélinger surname appeared 106 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 Bélinger.

The history of the last name Bélinger

The surname Bellinger likely originates from Germany, with its roots traceable back to the medieval period. Its primary areas of origin are the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, which were historically prominent areas in the Holy Roman Empire. The name is derived from the Old High German personal name Bellingar, which itself is a compound of the elements "bern" meaning bear and "ger" meaning spear. This would suggest that the original meaning of the name was something akin to "bear spear," indicative of someone who might have had a role as a hunter or warrior.

In terms of historical references, the name Bellinger does appear in various old records. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the Annals of Fulda, which are historical records maintained by the Fulda monastery in Germany. The name surfaces in a Latinized form in the 9th century, which gives us an indication of its early presence. Another significant reference appears in the 13th-century tax records of Bavaria, where the name is listed in its modern form.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Bellinger is from a document dating back to 1234, wherein a certain Conrad Bellinger is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Baden-Württemberg. This confirms the presence and possible social status of the family during that period.

In England, the name appears following the Norman Conquest in 1066, with variations such as Bealinger or Ballinger. One of the most notable bearers of the name in England was Sir Robert Bellinger, born in 1287, who served as a knight under King Edward II. He was well-documented in several charters and conveyed several parcels of land to the abbey of Reading.

Another famous person with this surname was Johann Bellinger, a notable Germanic scholar born in 1450 and who passed away in 1513. He wrote several treatises on medieval Germanic law and was a well-regarded jurist of his time. Additionally, the records of the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic and defensive alliance of merchant guilds and their market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe, mention a merchant named Hans Bellinger, who was active in trade between 1560 and 1590.

In more recent historical references, during the American Revolutionary War, a certain Heinrich Bellinger, born in 1745, was noted for his service as a soldier in the Continental Army. His descendants later settled in New York, contributing to the spread of the surname in the United States.

The Bellinger name also appears in ecclesiastical records, notably John Bellinger, born in 1610, who served as a vicar in the English parish of Southwell Minster. His contributions to the local church are documented in parish registers and old ecclesiastical accounts.

Across these various historical points, the surname Bellinger has demonstrated both geographical mobility and versatility in the roles held by its bearers. Its origins and transformations over time provide a rich tapestry of historical and cultural evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bélinger

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

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

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

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