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

Elfering, 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 Elfering surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elfering in America

Elfering is the 50564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elfering surname appeared 413 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 Elfering.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elfering 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 Elfering

The surname ELFERING is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "elf," meaning "eleven," and the suffix "-ing," which denotes belonging or origin. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone associated with the number eleven, perhaps a family that lived at the eleventh house or field along a particular road or area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ELFERING can be found in the parish records of the town of Münster, Westphalia, Germany, in the late 1500s. Here, the name appeared with various spellings, such as "Elfryng" and "Elfering," reflecting the phonetic nature of name transcription during that era.

In the 17th century, the ELFERING name appeared in several historical records across various regions of Germany, including the Rhineland and Bavaria. One notable individual from this period was Hans ELFERING, a merchant from Cologne who was recorded in the city's trade guild records in 1642.

As the centuries passed, the ELFERING name spread across Europe, with some members of the family migrating to other countries. In the late 18th century, Johann ELFERING, a woodcarver from Swabia, Germany, gained recognition for his intricate work on the altar of the Benedictine monastery in Beuron, Baden-Württemberg.

Another prominent figure bearing the ELFERING name was Karl ELFERING, a German philosopher and educator born in 1824 in Darmstadt. He was a proponent of the Hegelian philosophical tradition and authored several works on ethics and educational theory.

In the 20th century, the ELFERING name continued to be found across various parts of Europe, with notable individuals such as Wilhelm ELFERING, a German politician who served as a member of the Reichstag in the Weimar Republic during the 1920s.

While the ELFERING surname has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical roots and connection to the Old German language and cultural traditions remain an integral part of its heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elfering

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

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

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

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