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

Dornfeld, 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 Dornfeld surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dornfeld in America

Dornfeld is the 35764th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dornfeld surname appeared 628 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 Dornfeld.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dornfeld 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 Dornfeld

The surname Dornfeld is of German origin, originating in the medieval period. It is derived from the German words "Dorn" meaning "thorn" and "Feld" meaning "field", likely referring to a thorny field or a place where thorny bushes grew. This suggests that the name may have originated as a topographic surname, describing the location or landscape where the initial bearers lived or worked.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Dornfeld can be found in various medieval German records and manuscripts. One notable example is the mention of a Johannes Dornfeld in the 14th-century chronicles of the city of Nuremberg. This suggests that the surname was already established in the region during that time period.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Dornfeld was Hans Dornfeld, a renowned German clockmaker and inventor who lived from 1508 to 1580. His innovations in the design and construction of clocks and timepieces contributed significantly to the advancement of horology during the Renaissance era.

Another notable individual with the surname Dornfeld was Friedrich Dornfeld, a German military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1783 and played a crucial role in several battles against the French forces, earning recognition for his tactical skills and bravery.

In the 19th century, the Dornfeld name gained recognition in the field of literature through the works of the German writer and poet Wilhelm Dornfeld, who was born in 1828 and died in 1897. His poetic works and literary contributions were celebrated during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars of German literature.

The surname Dornfeld can also be traced back to various place names and locations within Germany, such as the village of Dornfeld in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This further reinforces the topographic origins of the name, suggesting that early bearers may have hailed from or resided in areas with similar geographic features.

Throughout history, the Dornfeld surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including artisans, military personnel, writers, and scholars. While the name may have evolved slightly in its spelling or pronunciation over the centuries, its core meaning and German roots have remained intact, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dornfeld

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

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

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

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