2000
#11,174
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,603
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.96
Rare Last name
Eslinger
A German occupational surname referring to a manufacturer or seller of slings or catapults.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,895 Americans carry the last name Eslinger. That puts it at #11,850 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.84 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 118,395 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Eslinger surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.9K
1 in 118,395
Census rank
#11,850
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,525 bearers of the surname Eslinger in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.84 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11850th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Eslinger, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Eslinger
The surname ESLINGER is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "eslingen," which referred to an area near the town of Esslingen, located in the modern-day state of Baden-Württemberg. The name likely originated as a descriptive term for individuals who hailed from or resided in this region.
The earliest known record of the ESLINGER surname appears in a document from the 13th century, where it is spelled "Esslinger." This particular spelling variation suggests a direct connection to the town of Esslingen, which was a significant trading center during the medieval period. Over time, the surname evolved into its current form, ESLINGER.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Johannes Eslinger, a merchant and influential citizen of Esslingen, who lived in the late 14th century. His prominence within the town's affairs is documented in several historical records from that era.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Ulrich Eslinger gained recognition as a skilled artisan and master craftsman in the city of Augsburg. His intricate woodcarvings and sculptures adorned many churches and public buildings throughout the region, cementing his reputation as a prominent artist of the time.
During the 16th century, a scholar and theologian named Sebastian Eslinger (1510-1585) made significant contributions to the Protestant Reformation movement. Born in Esslingen, he studied under Martin Luther and later became a prominent figure in the Lutheran Church, authoring several influential theological texts.
In the 17th century, the ESLINGER name gained further prominence with the exploits of Johann Georg Eslinger (1624-1689), a renowned military officer who served in the Thirty Years' War. His bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield earned him recognition and commendations from various European monarchs.
Another notable figure was Katharina Eslinger (1670-1743), a skilled glassmaker and entrepreneur from the town of Zwiesel in Bavaria. Her innovative techniques and exceptional craftsmanship helped establish the region's reputation for producing high-quality glassware, which was exported throughout Europe during the 18th century.
While the ESLINGER surname has its roots in the German-speaking regions, it has since spread across various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical significance remains deeply intertwined with the town of Esslingen and the surrounding areas in southern Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Eslinger
Among Census respondents with the surname Eslinger, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Eslinger bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Eslinger surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.8% · 2,293
- Hispanic or Latino4.2% · 105
- Two or more races2.7% · 69
- Black or African American1.3% · 32
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 17
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Eslinger
Eslinger appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#11,856
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,641
+38 bearers (+1.5%)
Per 100,000 0.90
Rank movement Down 682 places
2020
#11,850
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,525
-116 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.84
Rank movement Up 6 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,174 | 2,603 | 0.96 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,856 | 2,641 | 0.90 | +38 bearers (+1.5%) | Down 682 places |
| 2020 | #11,850 | 2,525 | 0.84 | -116 bearers (-4.4%) | Up 6 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Eslinger surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,856 | #11,850 | 0.1% |
| Count | 2,641 | 2,525 | -4.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.90 | 0.84 | -6.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Eslinger bearers went from 2,641 to 2,525 (-4.4% change). The surname moved up 6 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,856 to #11,850.
FAQ
Eslinger surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Eslinger?
Name Census estimates that about 2,895 living Americans carry the surname Eslinger. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 118,395 residents.
How common is Eslinger?
Eslinger ranks #11,850 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.84 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,525 people with the surname Eslinger. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,895), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.84 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.84 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Eslinger.
Has Eslinger become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Eslinger went from 2,641 recorded bearers to 2,525. That is a decrease of 116 (-4.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #11,856 to #11,850.
What does the Census say about the background of Eslinger?
Among Census respondents with the surname Eslinger, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Eslinger in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.8% (2,293 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Eslinger appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.8%), Hispanic (4.2%), Two or More Races (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Eslinger (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Eslinger mean?
A German occupational surname referring to a manufacturer or seller of slings or catapults. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Eslinger (0.84 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Eslinger?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Eslinger is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.