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

Fah, 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 Fah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fah in America

Fah is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fah surname appeared 161 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 Fah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fah 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 Fah

The surname Fah originates from Germany, specifically from the regions of Bavaria and Austria. It is believed to have emerged in the early 16th century, deriving from the Old German word "fah," which meant "color" or "hue." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with professions related to dyeing or coloring fabrics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fah can be found in the Bavarian town records of Regensburg, dated 1523. These records mention a certain Hans Fah, a dyer by trade, who resided in the town's guild district. It is likely that other individuals with similar occupations adopted the surname Fah during this period.

In the late 16th century, the Fah surname appears in several historical documents from the Austrian region of Tyrol. The town of Innsbruck, in particular, has records of a family named Fah who were prominent weavers and textile merchants. These records include the names of Johannes Fah (1567-1632) and his son, Wilhelm Fah (1595-1671), both of whom were highly respected members of the local weaver's guild.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and settlements commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fah. However, it is possible that the name may have evolved from similar-sounding place names or occupational descriptions found in the book, given the widespread use of descriptive surnames during that time.

In the 18th century, the Fah surname gained recognition through the works of the German philosopher and mathematician, Johann Friedrich Fah (1717-1792). Born in Saxony, Fah made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his writings were widely studied throughout Europe.

Another notable figure was the Austrian composer and violinist, Josef Fah (1788-1864). Fah was a prominent figure in the Viennese music scene and is credited with composing several operas and symphonies that were performed across Europe during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the name Fah gained prominence in the field of medicine with the work of Dr. Carl Fah (1821-1892), a German physician and researcher. Fah's groundbreaking studies on infectious diseases and their transmission played a crucial role in the development of modern epidemiology.

The surname Fah has also been associated with several literary figures, including the German novelist and poet, Katharina Fah (1845-1923). Her works, which often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, were widely acclaimed and translated into several languages.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of the Swiss artist and sculptor, Hans Fah (1879-1949). Fah's distinctive style, which blended elements of modernism and traditional Swiss folk art, earned him widespread recognition, and his works can be found in numerous museums and galleries across Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fah

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

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

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

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