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

Essig, 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 Essig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Essig in America

Essig is the 13884th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Essig surname appeared 2,175 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 Essig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Essig 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 Essig

The surname Essig originates from Germany, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "Essig," meaning "vinegar," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have been involved in the production or trade of vinegar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the municipal records of Nuremberg, Germany, from the year 1349, where a certain Hans Essig is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the mid-14th century.

The name Essig also appears in several historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents related to the history of Saxony. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of Germany during this period.

In the 17th century, the name Essig can be found in the records of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), with several soldiers bearing this surname serving in various regiments. One notable figure from this era is Johann Essig (1620-1692), a Lutheran pastor and theologian from Saxony.

As the name Essig spread throughout Germany, it also found its way into other regions. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals with this surname in the Austrian Empire, including Johann Georg Essig (1735-1798), a composer and organist from Bohemia.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Essig gained prominence in the field of viticulture, with several notable figures contributing to the study and cultivation of grapes and wine production. Among them was Friedrich Essig (1824-1890), a German viticulturist and author of several books on the subject.

Throughout history, the surname Essig has been associated with various professions, from clergy and military personnel to artists and academics. While its origins may have been humble, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical fabric of Germany and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Essig

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

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

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

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