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

Dirnfeld, 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 Dirnfeld surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dirnfeld in America

Dirnfeld is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dirnfeld surname appeared 117 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 Dirnfeld.

The history of the last name Dirnfeld

The surname Dirnfeld has its origins in Germany, arising sometime in the medieval period between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic words "dirn" meaning young girl or maiden, and "feld" meaning field or open land. This suggests the name may have initially referred to a person living near a field or meadow associated with maidens or young women, perhaps indicating an area where courtship rituals or dances took place.

While no definitive historical records pinpoint the name's emergence, some scholars believe it may be connected to the Dirnfeld estate near the town of Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria. This estate, first mentioned in documents from the 13th century, could have served as the origin for the surname as people adopted locational names based on where they lived or held land.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Dirnfeld surname was Hans Dirnfeld, a farmer and landowner who lived in the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria in the late 15th century. Records show he owned a sizable plot of land near the village center, which may have been the source of his family's surname.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Johann Dirnfeld (1505-1572) was a prominent Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Wittenberg, where he taught alongside Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. His writings and teachings played a role in shaping the early Protestant Reformation.

During the 17th century, the Dirnfeld name appeared in various regions of Germany, including a merchant family in the city of Nuremberg led by Christoph Dirnfeld (1620-1689). His trading business dealings stretched across Europe, indicating the name had spread beyond its probable Bavarian origins.

In the 19th century, a renowned German composer and music educator named Friedrich Dirnfeld (1804-1871) achieved fame for his vocal works and operas. He served as the director of music at the prestigious Leipzig Conservatory and influenced many notable musicians of his era.

Another individual of note was the Austrian painter and illustrator Nora Dirnfeld (1879-1952), whose vibrant artwork captured scenes of rural life and folklore. Her works are part of collections in museums across Europe, showcasing the artistic talents associated with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dirnfeld

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

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 Dirnfeld 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.

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

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

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