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

Fricke, 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 Fricke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fricke in America

Fricke is the 6691st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fricke surname appeared 5,048 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fricke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fricke 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 Fricke

The surname Fricke has its origins in Germany, particularly in the northern regions. It first appeared in records during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Low German word "frik," meaning "bold" or "brave." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or an occupational name for someone with a courageous or daring demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fricke can be found in the town of Lübeck, a prominent Hanseatic city in northern Germany. In the 14th century, a merchant named Hans Fricke was mentioned in various trade documents and city records, indicating that the name was well-established in the region at that time.

The Fricke surname is also linked to several place names in Germany, such as Frickenhofen and Frickenhausen, which likely contributed to the spread and prevalence of the name in those areas. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the surname Fricke who settled or established settlements in those locations.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Fricke. One such person was Johann Fricke, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1639 to 1677. His works were highly regarded during the Baroque period, and some of his paintings and engravings can still be found in museums and private collections.

Another prominent individual was Karl Fricke, a German lawyer and politician who lived from 1850 to 1927. He served as a member of the Reichstag (the German parliament) and was actively involved in the Social Democratic Party of Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Rudolf Fricke, a German author and poet who lived from 1900 to 1954. He is best known for his works that explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. His poetry collections, such as "Gedichte" (Poems), published in 1939, received critical acclaim.

Moving to the field of science, Ernst Fricke, a German physicist who lived from 1892 to 1965, made significant contributions to the study of atomic structure and spectroscopy. His work on the analysis of atomic spectra and the development of theoretical models laid the foundation for many advancements in quantum mechanics.

Lastly, one cannot forget Johann Fricke, a German military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He rose through the ranks and eventually became a Major General in the Prussian Army, distinguishing himself in various battles against the French forces.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fricke

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

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

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

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