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

Felker, 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 Felker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Felker in America

Felker is the 8046th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Felker surname appeared 4,113 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Felker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Felker 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 Felker

The surname Felker is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have derived from the German word "Felker," which referred to a worker in a quarry or a stone mason. This occupation was prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony during the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rottweil Records of 1330, where a certain Henrich Felker was mentioned as a resident of the town. Another notable entry is in the Niederstetten Church Records of 1472, which lists a Wilhelm Felker as a stonemason.

In the 16th century, the Felker family expanded their presence across various parts of Germany, with some members migrating to neighboring regions such as Switzerland and Austria. During this period, the name underwent minor variations in spelling, including Felcker and Felkner.

The name gained prominence in the 17th century when Johann Felker (1612-1687), a renowned architect, designed several churches and public buildings in the city of Nuremberg. His son, Hans Felker (1642-1718), followed in his footsteps and became a celebrated sculptor, known for his intricate works adorning various cathedrals across southern Germany.

As the Felker family continued to flourish, they left their mark in various fields. Notable individuals include Friedrich Felker (1793-1867), a prominent philosopher and author who wrote extensively on ethics and morality, and Karl Felker (1845-1919), a renowned military strategist who served in the Prussian army during the Franco-Prussian War.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Anna Felker (1879-1958), a celebrated opera singer who performed at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival Theater for over two decades. Her powerful soprano voice and captivating stage presence earned her widespread acclaim across Europe.

While the Felker surname originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural and occupational history of the German regions where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Felker

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

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

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

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