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

Karl, 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 Karl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karl in America

Karl is the 5308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karl surname appeared 6,564 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 Karl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karl 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 Karl

The surname Karl has its origins in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "karl," meaning "man" or "husband." This name was commonly used as a personal name among the ancient Germanic tribes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Karl can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region that is now modern-day Germany. The name appears in several records from the 11th and 12th centuries, often associated with individuals of noble or privileged status.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Karl was particularly prevalent in regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Franconia. It was also found in areas of what is now Austria and Switzerland, indicating the name's widespread usage among German-speaking populations.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Karl was Johannes Karl, a scholar and theologian who lived between 1330 and 1395. He was known for his contributions to the study of canon law and served as a professor at the University of Prague.

Another notable individual with the surname Karl was Friedrich Karl von Savigny, a renowned German jurist and historian who lived from 1779 to 1861. He was a prominent figure in the historical school of jurisprudence and made significant contributions to the development of modern legal theory.

In the realm of literature, the surname Karl was borne by Johann Peter Karl, a German writer and poet who lived from 1715 to 1786. He was known for his works in the Baroque and Enlightenment periods and was a member of the prestigious Prussian Academy of Sciences.

The name Karl also has connections to various place names and geographical locations. For instance, Karlsruhe, a city in southwestern Germany, derives its name from the German word "Karl" and the word "Ruhe," meaning "repose" or "rest." The city was founded in 1715 and named after Margrave Karl III Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach.

Another notable figure with the surname Karl was Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian-American biologist and physician who lived from 1868 to 1943. He is renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of blood typing and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.

Throughout its long history, the surname Karl has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, jurists, writers, and scientists. Its enduring presence across German-speaking regions and its connections to historical places and figures make it a significant part of the cultural heritage of Germany and surrounding areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karl

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

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

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

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