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

Eichelberger, 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 Eichelberger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eichelberger in America

Eichelberger is the 7191st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eichelberger surname appeared 4,647 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Eichelberger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eichelberger 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 Eichelberger

The surname Eichelberger is of German origin, with roots dating back to the late medieval period in the region of Bavaria. It is a compound word derived from the German words "eichel," meaning "acorn," and "berg," meaning "mountain" or "hill." This suggests that the name likely originated from a geographical location or settlement situated on a hill or mountain where oak trees were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eichelberger can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, Bavaria, from the 15th century. It is mentioned in a document dated 1487, referring to a family residing in the outskirts of the city, near the forested hills.

The name Eichelberger appears to have been relatively uncommon in its early years, with few mentions in historical records. However, in the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Eichelberger (1512-1578), a German theologian and reformer who played a role in the Protestant Reformation movement.

As the name spread throughout Germany, variations in spelling emerged, such as Eichelbergher, Eichelbergar, and Eichelbergen. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Eichelberger family emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is found in the records of the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia, which mentions a Johannes Eichelberger in 1689.

Another notable bearer of the Eichelberger surname was General Robert L. Eichelberger (1886-1961), a highly decorated American military officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He played a crucial role in the Pacific theater during WWII, commanding the Eighth Army in the Southwest Pacific Area.

Other historical figures with the Eichelberger surname include Johann Adam Eichelberger (1760-1826), a German-American clockmaker and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the longcase clock, and Friedrich Eichelberger (1811-1889), a German politician and member of the Frankfurt Parliament during the Revolutions of 1848-1849.

While the surname Eichelberger may not be as widespread as some other German surnames, it has a rich history and geographical significance, reflecting the diverse landscapes and settlements of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eichelberger

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

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

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

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