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

Ellinger, 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 Ellinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ellinger in America

Ellinger is the 11497th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ellinger surname appeared 2,737 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 Ellinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ellinger 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 Ellinger

The surname Ellinger originated in Germany, where it first appeared in records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "ellen," which means "courage" or "bravery." The suffix "-ing" or "-inger" was commonly added to surnames in German-speaking regions, indicating a place of origin or a patronymic name.

In its early days, the name was often spelled with variations such as Elinger, Ellenger, and Ellingher. These variations were common due to inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping practices at the time. The name was particularly prevalent in regions like Bavaria and Swabia, where it was associated with noble families and landowners.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ellinger can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions an individual named Conradus Ellinger in the year 1187. Another notable reference is found in the Österreichisches Klosterbuch, a monastic record from Austria, which mentions a monk named Johannes Ellinger in 1294.

The Ellinger surname gained prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries, with notable figures such as Hans Ellinger (c. 1370 - 1435), a renowned merchant and burgher of Nuremberg, and Ulrich Ellinger (1410 - 1478), a respected jurist and diplomat from Augsburg. During the Renaissance period, the Ellingers were influential members of the German mercantile class and held positions of power in various cities and territories.

In the 16th century, the Ellinger name appeared in the records of the Protestant Reformation, with individuals like Martin Ellinger (1508 - 1573), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Wittenberg, and Christoph Ellinger (1521 - 1594), a Protestant pastor and reformer from Nuremberg.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ellinger name spread across Europe and beyond, with notable figures such as Johann Ellinger (1624 - 1697), a German composer and organist, and Johann Philipp Ellinger (1732 - 1801), a Bavarian painter and engraver. The name also found its way to other parts of the world, including the Americas, through emigration and exploration.

In summary, the surname Ellinger has a rich history rooted in German culture and tradition, with early references dating back to the 12th century. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions across various fields, including commerce, law, theology, art, and music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ellinger

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

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

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

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