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

Eckhart, 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 Eckhart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eckhart in America

Eckhart is the 12124th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eckhart surname appeared 2,571 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 Eckhart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eckhart 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 Eckhart

The surname Eckhart originates from Germany, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old German words "ec" meaning "corner" or "edge," and "hart" meaning "hardy" or "brave." This combination suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on the outskirts or edges of a settlement, possibly indicating their strength and resilience.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Eckhart can be traced back to the 13th century in various German regions. One notable figure was Meister Eckhart, a renowned German theologian, philosopher, and mystic who lived from around 1260 to 1328. His teachings and writings profoundly influenced the development of mystical and speculative thought in the Western Christian tradition.

In the 14th century, the name Eckhart appeared in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents related to the history of Saxony. This suggests that the surname was well-established in different parts of Germany during this time.

Another notable individual with the surname Eckhart was Johann Georg Eckhart, a German mathematician and astronomer born in 1664. He made significant contributions to the study of calculus and is known for his work on the calculation of planetary orbits.

In the 18th century, the German philosopher and writer Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) mentioned the name Eckhart in his writings, further solidifying its historical presence.

The surname Eckhart also has connections to various place names in Germany, such as Eckhartsheim, a town in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Eckhartsau, a municipality in the district of Bingen, Rhineland-Palatinate. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Eckhart include the American psychologist and philosopher Meister Eckhart Tolle, born in 1948, who is known for his works on spirituality and mindfulness. Additionally, the German-American actor and filmmaker Charles Eckhart (1920-1995) made significant contributions to the film industry during the mid-20th century.

While the surname Eckhart has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eckhart

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

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

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

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