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

Federman, 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 Federman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Federman in America

Federman is the 28967th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Federman surname appeared 820 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 Federman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Federman 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 Federman

The surname Federman is of German origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where the name was initially spelled as "Führmann" or "Fuhrmann," derived from the Middle High German words "fuor" and "man," which together translate to "a man who drives a wagon or cart."

This surname likely arose as an occupational name, referring to individuals who worked as cartwrights, wagon drivers, or transporters of goods. In those times, the movement of goods and resources heavily relied on carts and wagons, making the role of Führmann an essential part of the economy and daily life.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Federman can be found in the Bavarian town records of Nuremberg from the early 1600s, where a certain Johannes Federman was listed as a respected citizen and wagon maker. Another notable mention comes from the village of Augsburg, where a family by the name of Federman owned a successful transport business in the late 17th century.

As the name spread across Germany and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Federmann, Fedderman, and eventually the modern form, Federman. These changes were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribe's interpretation of the name's pronunciation.

Historically, several individuals with the surname Federman made noteworthy contributions. Johann Federman (1567-1628), a German merchant and explorer, gained fame for his travels to South America and his accounts of the indigenous cultures he encountered. Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Federman (1798-1872), a renowned architect from Munich, whose designs left a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

In the realm of literature, the name Federman is associated with the acclaimed American author Raymond Federman (1928-2009), whose experimental novels and essays challenged traditional narrative forms. Additionally, the German-American artist and sculptor Michael Federman (born 1953) has gained recognition for his thought-provoking installations and public artworks.

While the surname Federman may have originated as a humble occupational name, it has since been carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from exploration and architecture to literature and art, spanning multiple centuries and countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Federman

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

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

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

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