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

Emch, 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 Emch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emch in America

Emch is the 25356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emch surname appeared 976 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 Emch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Emch 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 Emch

The surname Emch is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in Switzerland or southern Germany. Its earliest recorded form dates back to the 14th century, appearing as Emich or Emiche in various medieval records.

The name is thought to derive from the Old High German word "amal," meaning "labor" or "work," combined with the suffix "-ich," indicating a person or occupation. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a hardworking or industrious individual or could have been an occupational surname for someone involved in manual labor or craftsmanship.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hans Emich, a Swiss merchant and trader who lived in the city of Zurich in the late 15th century. Records show that he was involved in the lucrative textile trade and had business dealings throughout the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Emchen and Emichen, in documents from the regions of Swabia and Bavaria. Johann Emchen, born in 1524 in Augsburg, was a renowned clockmaker whose intricate timepieces were sought after by nobility and affluent patrons across Europe.

The Emch surname gained prominence in the 18th century with the rise of Johann Jakob Emch, a Swiss philosopher and writer born in 1716 in Basel. His philosophical treatises on ethics and morality were influential during the Age of Enlightenment, and he is considered one of Switzerland's most notable thinkers of that era.

Another notable figure bearing the Emch name was Karl Emch, a German-born artist and sculptor who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his avant-garde works and was associated with the Expressionist movement in early 20th century art.

In more recent history, Arnold Emch, born in 1923 in Zurich, was a renowned Swiss architect who played a significant role in the development of modern architecture in his home country. His innovative designs and contributions to urban planning left a lasting impact on the cityscapes of several Swiss cities.

While the Emch surname is relatively uncommon, it has persisted throughout the centuries, with bearers scattered across German-speaking regions of Europe and beyond, carrying on the legacy of this name with its roots in diligence and craftsmanship.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emch

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

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

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

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