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

Bolinger, 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 Bolinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bolinger in America

Bolinger is the 6979th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bolinger surname appeared 4,805 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Bolinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bolinger 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 Bolinger

The surname Bolinger originated in Germany, likely emerging sometime in the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the German words "boll" or "bolle," which referred to a type of rounded bread or a round loaf. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a baker or someone involved in the production of bread.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolinger can be found in a German document from the 14th century, where it is spelled "Bollinger." This spelling variation indicates that the name has evolved over time, possibly due to regional dialects or phonetic changes.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Bolinger residing in the town of Strasbourg, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire (now located in modern-day France). This family may have played a role in the spread and popularization of the name throughout the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Bolinger include Johann Bolinger (1676-1748), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious topics, and Friedrich Bolinger (1811-1889), a German-American artist and lithographer who immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and became known for his landscapes and portraits.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolinger can be found in the 1790 census, where a family with that surname is listed as residing in Pennsylvania. This suggests that the name had already been introduced to America by German immigrants in the 18th century.

Another notable figure was Dwight Bolinger (1904-1992), an American linguist and professor at Harvard University, who made significant contributions to the study of intonation and the relationship between syntax and meaning in language.

Additionally, Henry Bolinger (1833-1910), a German-American inventor and businessman, is credited with developing the first successful steam-powered fire engine, which revolutionized firefighting techniques in the late 19th century.

While the surname Bolinger is not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, reflecting the diverse contributions of those with this surname to various aspects of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bolinger

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

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

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

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