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

Gladfelter, 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 Gladfelter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gladfelter in America

Gladfelter is the 19852nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gladfelter surname appeared 1,354 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gladfelter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gladfelter 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 Gladfelter

The surname Gladfelter has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German words "Glatt," meaning "smooth" or "sleek," and "Feld," meaning "field." Together, these words suggest a connection to a smooth or flat field or an area of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gladfelter surname can be found in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, Germany. In the 1500s, a family bearing the name Gladfelter was documented as residing in this historic town, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture.

As the Gladfelter family spread across Germany and eventually to other parts of Europe and beyond, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as Gladfelter, Glatfelter, and Gladfelther. These variations likely resulted from regional dialects and the challenges of standardized spelling during that time period.

One notable individual bearing the Gladfelter surname was Johann Gladfelter, born in 1632 in the town of Schmalkalden, Germany. He was a respected scholar and theologian who authored several works on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, several members of the Gladfelter family immigrated to the United States, settling primarily in the Pennsylvania Dutch region. One such individual was Hans Gladfelter, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1752 and eventually settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Another notable Gladfelter was Samuel Gladfelter, born in 1768 in York County, Pennsylvania. He served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent citizen in his community.

In the 19th century, the Gladfelter name gained recognition through the work of Evan Gladfelter, born in 1809 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was a skilled clockmaker and inventor, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the field of horology.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the legacy of Dr. Millard Gladfelter, born in 1884 in Pennsylvania. He was a renowned surgeon and medical educator, serving as the president of Temple University in Philadelphia from 1938 to 1959.

While the Gladfelter surname may have originated from humble beginnings in a German field, it has since become a name associated with achievement, scholarship, and contribution across various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gladfelter

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

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

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

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