Find out how popular the last name Fahling is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fahling.
A surname originating in Germany that likely derived from the German word meaning "traveler".
Fahling, 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 Fahling surname is from the 2010 census data.
Fahling is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Fahling surname appeared 114 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 Fahling.
We can also compare 2010 data for Fahling 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 145220 | 134929 | 7.35% |
Count | 114 | 115 | -0.87% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.00% |
The surname Fahling is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century in the central regions of Germany. The name is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "falu," meaning "fallow" or "pale," possibly referring to an individual's complexion or the color of their hair.
Fahling is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name hailed from a specific place or region. Records from the 15th century mention a village called Fahling, located in the present-day state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is likely that the surname originated from this village, with early settlers adopting the name as a means of identification.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fahling surname can be found in the Heidelberg Manuscript, a collection of legal documents dating back to the late 15th century. In this manuscript, a certain Hans Fahling is mentioned as a witness in a land dispute, providing evidence of the name's existence during that period.
In the 16th century, the Fahling surname appeared in various historical records across Germany. Notable individuals bearing this name include Johann Fahling (1523-1587), a renowned Protestant theologian and reformer from Erfurt, and Katharina Fahling (1567-1632), a midwife and healer celebrated for her contributions to maternal healthcare in the city of Leipzig.
During the 17th century, the Fahling family spread across different regions of Germany, with some members venturing into other parts of Europe. One notable figure from this era was Peter Fahling (1644-1712), a merchant and philanthropist from Hamburg, who established a charitable foundation to support education and aid for the underprivileged.
In the 18th century, the Fahling surname gained prominence in the field of academia. Friedrich Fahling (1723-1798), a renowned scholar and linguist from Berlin, made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages and authored several influential works on grammar and etymology.
Another notable individual from this era was Maria Fahling (1756-1821), a celebrated artist and painter from Dresden, whose works were widely admired for their intricate details and vivid depictions of landscapes and portraits.
Throughout the 19th century, the Fahling surname continued to be associated with various professions and fields. Karl Fahling (1825-1892), a prominent politician from Saxony, served as a member of the German Reichstag and played a crucial role in shaping the country's legislative policies during his tenure.
As the centuries progressed, the Fahling surname gradually spread beyond the borders of Germany, with descendants settling in other parts of Europe and eventually migrating to various regions across the globe, carrying with them the rich heritage and history of their ancestral name.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fahling.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fahling was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 95.61% | 109 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Fahling has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 95.61% | 93.04% | 2.72% |
Black | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Hispanic | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Fahling was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fahling, please contact us.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/fahling-surname-popularity/">Fahling last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Fahling last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 15, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/fahling-surname-popularity/.
"Fahling last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/fahling-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 May, 2025
Fahling last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/fahling-surname-popularity/.
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