Gelb
A surname derived from the German word for "yellow," possibly descriptive of hair color or complexion.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,714 Americans carry the last name Gelb. That puts it at #18,572 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.50 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 199,973 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gelb surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.7K
1 in 199,973
Census rank
#18,572
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,485 bearers of the surname Gelb in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.50 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18572nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gelb, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gelb
The surname Gelb has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 17th century. It is derived from the German word "gelb," meaning "yellow," which likely referred to someone with yellow-colored hair or a pale complexion. The name may have also been used as a descriptive identifier for someone who lived near a yellow-colored building or landmark.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gelb surname can be found in the church records of Saxony from the late 1600s. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Gelbe" or "Gelber," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
In the 18th century, a notable figure with the Gelb surname was Johann Friedrich Gelb (1712-1786), a German philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on the relationship between reason and faith. His works influenced the development of Enlightenment thought in Central Europe.
Another historical figure with the Gelb name was Friedrich Gelb (1827-1901), a German architect known for his contributions to the revival of Gothic architecture in Germany. He was responsible for the design of several prominent churches and public buildings in cities like Berlin and Dresden.
In the 19th century, the Gelb surname also gained prominence in the United States, where it was brought by German immigrants. One notable American with this surname was David Gelb (1846-1910), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Gelb Institute for the Study of Hebrew Language and Literature in New York City.
As the Gelb family spread across Europe and North America, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, including Gelbe, Gelber, and Gelbmann. Some of these variations were influenced by local place names, such as the town of Gelbensande in Germany, which may have given rise to the surname Gelbensander.
Throughout history, the Gelb surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including scholars, artists, businesspeople, and community leaders. While not as widely recognized as some other German surnames, Gelb has left its mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of both Europe and North America.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gelb
Among Census respondents with the surname Gelb, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Gelb bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Gelb surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gelb surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,001 | #18,572 | -16.1% |
| Count | 1,666 | 1,485 | -10.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.62 | 0.50 | -19.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Gelb bearers went from 1,666 to 1,485 (-10.9% change). The surname moved down 2,571 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,001 to #18,572.
FAQ
Gelb surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gelb?
The surname Gelb holds position #18,572 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,714 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.50 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gelb surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gelb, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.