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

Bolte, 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 Bolte surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bolte in America

Bolte is the 11907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bolte surname appeared 2,629 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bolte.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bolte 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 Bolte

The surname Bolte is of German origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a nickname or occupational name derived from the Middle Low German word "bolt," meaning a bolt or bar used in construction or fortification.

In the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from one's occupation, physical characteristics, or place of residence. The name Bolte may have been given to an individual who worked with bolts or bars, perhaps as a locksmith, a blacksmith, or a builder of fortifications.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Bolte can be found in various German regions, including Lower Saxony, Westphalia, and the Rhineland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Bolte, a merchant from Lübeck, who was mentioned in records dating back to the 14th century.

Over time, the name Bolte spread to other parts of Germany, as well as neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Denmark. Variations of the spelling, such as Bolt, Bolten, and Boldt, also emerged.

Historically, the name Bolte has been associated with several notable figures. Heinrich Bolte (1585-1661) was a German jurist and author who served as a councilor and syndic in Lübeck. Johann Friedrich Bolte (1806-1879) was a German historian and archivist who made significant contributions to the study of medieval German literature.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Georg Bolte (1875-1959), a German philologist and folklore scholar who specialized in the study of fairy tales and folk narratives. His work, including the compilation of the influential "Anmerkungen zu den Kinder- und Hausmärchen der Brüder Grimm" (Notes on the Children's and Household Tales of the Brothers Grimm), is widely recognized in the field of folklore studies.

In the arts, Johannes Bolte (1920-1995) was a German painter and graphic artist known for his abstract and constructivist works. His works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums across Europe.

The name Bolte has also been found in places like the United States, where it was likely brought by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable American bearer of the name was Charles Bolte (1896-1962), a businessman and philanthropist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who contributed significantly to the city's cultural and educational institutions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bolte

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

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

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

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