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

Kelsch, 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 Kelsch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelsch in America

Kelsch is the 14842nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelsch surname appeared 1,996 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kelsch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kelsch 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 Kelsch

The surname Kelsch has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the late Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to have derived from the German word "Kelch," which translates to "chalice" or "goblet" in English. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who crafted or sold chalices, which were essential items used in religious ceremonies at the time.

One of the earliest known records of the Kelsch name dates back to the 15th century, where it appears in the town records of Cologne, a city in western Germany. The name was also found in various other regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony, indicating its widespread use across different parts of the country.

In the 16th century, the Kelsch surname is mentioned in the records of the Protestant Reformation, as some individuals bearing this name were among the early supporters of Martin Luther's teachings. This suggests that the Kelsch family may have played a role in the religious and cultural upheaval that swept across Europe during that era.

As the centuries passed, the Kelsch name continued to spread across Germany and beyond. One notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Kelsch, a German composer and organist who lived from 1679 to 1747. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded in his time and contributed to the development of German Baroque music.

Another significant individual with the Kelsch surname was Karl Kelsch, a German painter and engraver who was born in 1846 and died in 1925. He is renowned for his intricate etchings and engravings, which often depicted scenes from German folklore and mythology.

In the 19th century, the Kelsch name also gained a foothold in the United States, as German immigrants began arriving in significant numbers. One notable American Kelsch was John Kelsch, a businessman and politician who served as the mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1902 to 1909.

While the Kelsch surname may have originated as an occupational name related to chalice-making, it has since become a prominent surname in both Germany and other parts of the world, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelsch

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

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

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

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