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

Felten, 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 Felten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Felten in America

Felten is the 17752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Felten surname appeared 1,578 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 Felten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Felten 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 Felten

The surname Felten is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the town of Felten or Velden, located in Bavaria, Germany. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old High German word "feldo," which means "field" or "open land."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Felten surname can be found in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sancti Petri Salisburgo, a medieval manuscript dating back to the late 11th century. This document mentions an individual named Rudolfus de Feltun, likely referring to the town of Felten or Velden.

In the 13th century, the Felten surname appeared in various records and charters across Bavaria and the surrounding regions. For example, a certain Conradus Felten was mentioned in the Bairische Landtafel, a legal document from the Duchy of Bavaria, in 1268.

During the 14th century, the name Felten began to spread beyond Bavaria, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in neighboring regions such as Austria and Switzerland. One notable figure from this time was Johannes Felten, a Bavarian monk and chronicler who lived from around 1320 to 1390.

In the 15th century, the Felten surname gained further prominence in Germany. One of the most notable figures was Konrad Felten, a German painter and woodcarver who was active in Nuremberg between 1460 and 1508. His works can still be found in various churches and museums across Germany.

As the centuries progressed, the Felten surname continued to spread and evolve. In the 16th century, a certain Hans Felten was a renowned gunsmith and armorer in Augsburg, Germany, known for his intricate craftsmanship. Another notable figure from this era was Johann Felten, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1504 to 1572.

In the 17th century, the Felten surname made its way into other European countries, including the Netherlands and France. One notable figure was Pieter Felten, a Dutch painter and engraver who lived from 1612 to 1680 and was known for his intricate landscape paintings.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the Felten surname continue to spread across Europe and beyond. One notable figure from this time was Johann Conrad Felten, a German industrialist and entrepreneur who lived from 1767 to 1844. He founded the Felten & Guilleaume company, which became a leading manufacturer of electrical wires and cables.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Felten

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

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

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

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