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

Berghoff, 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 Berghoff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berghoff in America

Berghoff is the 35096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berghoff surname appeared 642 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Berghoff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Berghoff 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 Berghoff

The surname Berghoff originated from Germany, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "Berg" meaning "hill" or "mountain," and "hof" which translates to "farm" or "homestead." This combination suggests that the name was likely given to families who resided on or near a hill or mountain farm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Berghoff name can be found in the German town of Kaiserslautern in the 14th century. Historical records from this region mention a family named Berghoff residing in the area during that time period. The name was likely adopted as a descriptive identifier, indicating the family's connection to a specific geographical location or their occupation as farmers on hilly terrain.

In the 16th century, the Berghoff name appeared in various official documents and records throughout the German states. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Berghoff (1548-1612), a prominent merchant and landowner from the town of Worms, and Hans Berghoff (1602-1671), a respected blacksmith from Heidelberg.

As the centuries passed, the Berghoff family spread across different regions of Germany, and some members migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable figure was Friedrich Berghoff (1786-1853), a German-American entrepreneur who established a successful brewing company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the mid-19th century.

Another prominent individual was Wilhelm Berghoff (1835-1912), a German-born architect who played a significant role in the construction of several iconic buildings in New York City, including the original Metropolitan Opera House and the Astor Hotel.

In the 20th century, the Berghoff name gained recognition through the Berghoff Family, who owned and operated the famous Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. This establishment, founded by Herman Berghoff (1868-1944) in 1898, became a beloved institution and a landmark in the city, known for its traditional German cuisine and hospitality.

Throughout its long history, the surname Berghoff has been associated with various professions, from farmers and merchants to artisans and entrepreneurs. While its origins can be traced back to the hills and farms of medieval Germany, the name has since spread across the globe, carrying with it the legacy of its German heritage and the stories of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berghoff

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

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

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

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