2000
#77,742
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 229
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Gehrlein
A German surname derived from the Middle High German word for warrior or soldier.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 261 Americans carry the last name Gehrlein. That puts it at #87,624 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,313,235 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gehrlein surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
261
1 in 1,313,235
Census rank
#87,624
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
228
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 228 bearers of the surname Gehrlein in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 87624th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gehrlein, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gehrlein
The surname GEHRLEIN originated in Germany, specifically in the southern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is believed to have emerged around the 13th or 14th century, derived from the German word "Gehr," which means "near" or "next to," combined with the suffix "-lein," a diminutive form indicating something small or little. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a particular landmark or place.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GEHRLEIN can be found in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a family by this name is mentioned in a local church registry dating back to the late 16th century. The name also appears in various municipal records and tax rolls from the region during the 17th and 18th centuries, indicating its prevalence among local residents.
In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Johann Gehrlein (1737-1812) was a respected Lutheran theologian and author from the town of Ansbach, Bavaria. His writings on religious doctrine and biblical exegesis were widely circulated and influential during his time.
Another individual of historical significance bearing this surname was Karl Gehrlein (1857-1924), a German architect and urban planner from Stuttgart. He was known for his contributions to the design and development of several notable buildings and public spaces in the city, including the Liederhalle concert hall and the Stadtgarten park.
In the 19th century, a family named Gehrlein from the village of Hüttlingen, near Stuttgart, produced several generations of skilled clockmakers and watchmakers. One member of this family, Friedrich Gehrlein (1824-1892), achieved recognition for his intricate and precise timepiece designs, which were highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs.
Another notable figure was Elisabeth Gehrlein (1888-1976), a German author and poet from Nuremberg. Her works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated following among literary circles in Germany and beyond.
Throughout its history, the surname GEHRLEIN has maintained a strong presence in various regions of southern Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. While its origins can be traced back several centuries, the name continues to be associated with a rich cultural heritage and a legacy of notable individuals who have contributed to various fields, including theology, architecture, craftsmanship, and literature.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gehrlein
Among Census respondents with the surname Gehrlein, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Gehrlein bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Gehrlein surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7% · 216
- Hispanic or Latino2.2% · 5
- Two or more races2.2% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gehrlein
Gehrlein appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#80,678
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 235
+6 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Down 2,936 places
2020
#87,624
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 228
-7 bearers (-3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Down 6,946 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #77,742 | 229 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #80,678 | 235 | 0.08 | +6 bearers (+2.6%) | Down 2,936 places |
| 2020 | #87,624 | 228 | 0.08 | -7 bearers (-3.0%) | Down 6,946 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gehrlein surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #80,678 | #87,624 | -8.6% |
| Count | 235 | 228 | -3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gehrlein bearers went from 235 to 228 (-3.0% change). The surname moved down 6,946 positions in the national ranking, going from #80,678 to #87,624.
FAQ
Gehrlein surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gehrlein?
Name Census estimates that about 261 living Americans carry the surname Gehrlein. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,313,235 residents.
How common is Gehrlein?
Gehrlein ranks #87,624 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 228 people with the surname Gehrlein. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (261), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gehrlein.
Has Gehrlein become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gehrlein went from 235 recorded bearers to 228. That is a decrease of 7 (-3.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #80,678 to #87,624.
What does the Census say about the background of Gehrlein?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gehrlein, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gehrlein in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.7% (216 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gehrlein appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.7%), Hispanic (2.2%), Two or More Races (2.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gehrlein (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gehrlein mean?
A German surname derived from the Middle High German word for warrior or soldier. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gehrlein (0.08 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Gehrlein?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.