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

Bleich, 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 Bleich surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bleich in America

Bleich is the 19703rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bleich surname appeared 1,367 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 Bleich.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bleich 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 Bleich

The surname Bleich is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "bleiche," which means "bleaching field" or "bleaching ground," referring to areas where linen or cloth was laid out to be whitened by the sun.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bleich can be found in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sancti Michaelis Bambergensis, a historical document from the 12th century that mentions a person named "Chunradus de Bleiche" (Conrad of Bleiche).

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and documents across different regions of Germany. For example, a certain "Johannes Bleich" was mentioned in the city records of Nuremberg in 1372.

During the 15th century, the name Bleich was also found in other parts of Europe, suggesting that individuals with this surname had begun to migrate or establish themselves in new areas. One notable example is a merchant named Hans Bleich, who was recorded in the city archives of Lübeck, Germany, in 1487.

As time progressed, the name Bleich continued to spread, and variations in spelling emerged, such as Bleychen, Blaich, and Bleicher. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or local pronunciations.

Notable individuals with the surname Bleich throughout history include:

1. Peter Bleich (1531-1609), a German composer and organist who served as the court musician to the Elector Palatine in Heidelberg.

2. Johann Bleich (1642-1722), a German architect and sculptor who worked on various churches and palaces in the Baroque style.

3. Maria Theresa Bleich (1785-1862), an Austrian painter and engraver known for her portraits and religious works.

4. Wilhelm Bleich (1839-1920), a German-American industrialist who founded the Bleich Brewing Company in St. Louis, Missouri.

5. Karl Bleich (1880-1969), a German philosopher and educator who taught at the University of Leipzig and wrote extensively on ethics and value theory.

While the surname Bleich has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and various European countries, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bleich

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

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

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

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