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

Burkholder, 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 Burkholder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burkholder in America

Burkholder is the 3128th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burkholder surname appeared 11,532 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Burkholder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burkholder 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 Burkholder

The surname Burkholder has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the German words "Burg," meaning "castle" or "fortified town," and "Halter," which translates to "keeper" or "holder." This suggests that the earliest Burkholders were likely employed as guardians or caretakers of castles or fortified settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the region of Brandenburg, Germany. In this text, a certain "Burkhard de Holdere" is mentioned in a document dated 1375, indicating the presence of the name in that area during the 14th century.

The Burkholder name also has connections to the Palatinate region of Germany, where many of its bearers resided during the 17th and 18th centuries. Records from this time period include entries for individuals such as Hans Burkholder (1623-1691), a farmer from the village of Sausenheim, and Johann Burkholder (1687-1756), a vintner from the town of Deidesheim.

As the Burkholder family expanded and migrated, the name took on various spellings, including Burkhalter, Burghalter, and Burkholder. One notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Burkhalter (1505-1573), a Swiss Reformed theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Burkholder family immigrated to the American colonies, where they settled in Pennsylvania and became part of the Amish and Mennonite communities. Among the early Burkholders in America was Christian Burkholder (1670-1747), who arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s and became a prominent member of the Amish community.

Another notable Burkholder was John Burkholder (1838-1914), an American Civil War veteran and influential leader in the Mennonite Church. He served as a bishop and played a crucial role in the growth and development of the Mennonite faith in the United States.

Over the centuries, the Burkholder name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, artisans, religious leaders, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving a lasting legacy in the diverse cultures and communities it has touched.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burkholder

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

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

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

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