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

Fankhouser, 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 Fankhouser surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Fankhouser in America

Fankhouser is the 140756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fankhouser surname appeared 109 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fankhouser.

The history of the last name Fankhouser

The surname Fankhauser, sometimes spelled Fankhauser, originates from Switzerland, particularly from German-speaking regions. The name dates back to the medieval period, with its roots traced to the Alpine areas where German dialects were prevalent. The earliest variants of the surname likely emerged around the 14th to 15th centuries, a time of notable regional consolidation and development of family names in Europe.

The name Fankhauser is believed to be derived from two old German words: "fang" which means to capture or seize, and "haus" meaning house. Consequently, Fankhauser likely referred to someone who controlled or owned a significant house or estate, possibly a fortress or a key structure in a village. Such derivations were common as surnames began to signify professions, statuses, or notable traits of families.

Historically, the Fankhauser name appears in various documents and records throughout Switzerland. One of the earliest recorded mentions is of Hans Fankhauser, a landowner in the canton of Bern, around 1480. This region was known for its independent farmers and minor nobility, who often played integral roles in local governance and economy.

Another notable figure is Ulrich Fankhauser, born in 1523, who served as a city councilor in Zurich. His influence in the city’s political and economic matters was documented in municipal records. His tenure coincided with the Swiss Reformation, marking a period of religious and social upheaval, during which the Fankhauser family would have played a part.

Johann Fankhauser, born in 1657, was a renowned silk merchant whose business thrived in Basel. His success in trade extended the family’s influence beyond local politics into the wider economic arena of Europe. Documents from the era detail his dealings with Italian and French traders, which contributed significantly to the prosperity of his house.

Catarina Fankhauser, born in 1734, became one of the few documented women in Swiss history to manage a family estate after the death of her husband. Her leadership ensured the continuation of the Fankhauser legacy in the canton of Aargau. The preservation of her correspondence offers valuable insights into the management of large rural properties during the 18th century.

Rudolf Fankhauser, a 19th-century botanist from the canton of Thurgau, made notable contributions to the study of Alpine flora. His work was published extensively in scientific journals, earning recognition in academia across Europe. His findings remain referenced in modern botanical research, highlighting the lasting impact of the Fankhauser name in scholarly circles.

The surname Fankhauser underwent various spellings, including Fanghauser and Fanckhouser, as families moved across regions and countries. Despite these variations, the name's association with prominence in Swiss society has been maintained through documented historical figures and enduring legacies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fankhouser

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fankhouser 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.

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

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

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