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

Ehrenfeld, 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 Ehrenfeld surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ehrenfeld in America

Ehrenfeld is the 43811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ehrenfeld surname appeared 492 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 Ehrenfeld.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ehrenfeld 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 Ehrenfeld

The surname Ehrenfeld is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a compound word derived from the German words "Ehre" meaning honor and "Feld" meaning field or open land.

This name likely originated in the regions of present-day Germany where German dialects were spoken, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. The name may have been initially given to someone who lived near an honorable or respected field, or perhaps to someone who embodied the qualities of honor and integrity associated with the land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ehrenfeld can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during that period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johann Ehrenfeld was mentioned in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where he served as a prominent merchant and city councilor. His influence and reputation may have contributed to the spread and recognition of the name Ehrenfeld within the region.

During the Renaissance period, a scholar and humanist named Andreas Ehrenfeld (1490-1562) gained recognition for his contributions to the field of linguistics and his translations of classical texts. He was born in the town of Wittenberg and was a contemporary of Martin Luther, the famous Protestant reformer.

In the 17th century, a military leader named Friedrich von Ehrenfeld (1620-1688) distinguished himself in the service of the Holy Roman Empire, participating in various conflicts and battles during the Thirty Years' War. His military exploits brought further visibility to the Ehrenfeld name.

Another notable bearer of the name was Johann Caspar Ehrenfeld (1712-1784), a German composer and organist who lived in the city of Augsburg. His compositions for organ and sacred music were widely performed and admired during the Baroque era.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Ehrenfeld has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and heritage within German-speaking regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ehrenfeld

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

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

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

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