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

Kelter, 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 Kelter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelter in America

Kelter is the 52619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelter surname appeared 394 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 Kelter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kelter 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 Kelter

The surname Kelter is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the 16th or 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "kelter," which means a winepress or a trough used for crushing grapes during winemaking. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked in a winery or was involved in the production of wine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kelter can be found in the records of the town of Eltville, located in the Rheingau region of Germany, which is renowned for its winemaking traditions. In the late 16th century, a family by the name of Kelter is mentioned as residing in the town, lending credence to the theory that the name originated from the winemaking trade.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Kelter was Johann Kelter, a German composer and organist who lived from 1628 to 1700. He served as the court organist in Gotha and was highly regarded for his skill in organ composition and performance.

Another individual of historical significance was Friedrich Kelter, a German politician and writer who lived from 1813 to 1890. He served as a member of the Frankfurt Parliament during the revolutionary years of 1848-1849 and was an advocate for democratic reforms and social justice.

In the 19th century, a prominent member of the Kelter family was Wilhelm Kelter, a German industrialist and entrepreneur who lived from 1832 to 1908. He founded the Kelter Machinery Works in Karlsruhe, which became a leading manufacturer of agricultural equipment and engines.

The surname Kelter can also be found in various place names throughout Germany, such as Kelterbach, a town in the state of Hesse, and Keltern, a town in the state of Baden-Württemberg. These place names likely derived from the presence of wineries or winemaking activities in those areas, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the wine industry.

Another notable figure was Hans Kelter, a German painter and artist who lived from 1887 to 1956. He was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works are featured in several museums and art galleries across Germany.

While the surname Kelter has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the winemaking regions of Germany, where it likely originated as an occupational surname for those involved in the production of wine.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelter

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

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

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

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