Fassbinder
A surname indicating someone who worked as a cooper or barrel maker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Fassbinder. That puts it at #86,314 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fassbinder surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#86,314
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
216
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 216 bearers of the surname Fassbinder in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 86314th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fassbinder, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fassbinder
The surname Fassbinder is of German origin, originating in the medieval period. It is derived from the German words "fass" meaning "barrel" and "binder" meaning "maker" or "cooper". The name would have originally referred to someone who made or repaired barrels.
The earliest known record of the surname Fassbinder dates back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It is believed that the name first emerged in the town of Nürnberg, which was a center for trade and craftsmanship during the Middle Ages.
Throughout the centuries, variations in spelling occurred, such as Fassbinder, Fassbender, and Fassbindter. These variations were common due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the name Fassbinder was Hans Fassbinder, a master cooper who lived in the city of Augsburg. He was renowned for his expertly crafted barrels, which were used for storing and transporting wine and beer.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Johann Michael Fassbinder, born in 1688 in Würzburg, Germany. He was a highly skilled woodworker and furniture maker, known for his intricate carvings and attention to detail.
In the 19th century, the name Fassbinder gained recognition through the works of the German writer and director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, born in 1945. He was a prolific and influential figure in the New German Cinema movement, renowned for films like "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul" and "The Marriage of Maria Braun".
Other notable individuals with the surname Fassbinder include:
- Hubertus Fassbinder, a German politician born in 1924, who served as the Mayor of Bochum from 1983 to 1994.
- Christa Fassbinder, a German actress born in 1938, who appeared in several films directed by her brother Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
- Gerhard Fassbinder, a German engineer born in 1920, who made significant contributions to the development of automotive technologies.
While the surname Fassbinder is not among the most common in Germany today, it has a rich history rooted in the craftsmanship and trade of barrel-making, a vital industry in medieval and early modern times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fassbinder
Among Census respondents with the surname Fassbinder, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Fassbinder bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Fassbinder surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Fassbinder surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #86,314 | #86,314 | 0.0% |
| Count | 216 | 216 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Fassbinder bearers went from 216 to 216 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #86,314 to #86,314.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Fassbinder
FAQ
Fassbinder surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Fassbinder?
The surname Fassbinder holds position #86,314 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Fassbinder surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fassbinder, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.