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

Kluge, 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 Kluge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kluge in America

Kluge is the 13660th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kluge surname appeared 2,216 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 Kluge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kluge 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 Kluge

The surname Kluge is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "kluc" or "kluge," which meant "clever" or "wise." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was considered exceptionally intelligent or astute.

In the early 14th century, the name Kluge began appearing in various German records and documents. One of the earliest known references is found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493, which mentions a certain Konrad Kluge from the city of Nuremberg.

The surname Kluge was particularly prevalent in the regions of Saxony and Thuringia, where it was often associated with families of scholars, writers, and intellectuals. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Johann Kluge (1513-1567), a German theologian and Protestant reformer who played a significant role in the Reformation movement.

Throughout the centuries, the Kluge surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Klugge, Kluege, and Klug. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local scribes' interpretations. Despite these minor alterations, the core meaning of the name remained consistent.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Kluge was Victor Kluge (1801-1868), a prominent German philologist and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Scandinavian languages. His scholarly works, including his seminal book "Über die neuesten Arbeiten auf dem Gebiete der deutschen Grammatik" (On the Latest Works in the Field of German Grammar), had a lasting impact on the field of linguistics.

Another notable figure was Otto Kluge (1825-1917), a German jurist and politician who served as the Minister of Justice for the Kingdom of Prussia from 1879 to 1888. He played a crucial role in the codification of German civil law and was instrumental in the development of the German Civil Code, known as the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB).

In the realm of literature, the name Kluge is associated with the German writer and poet Hermann Kluge (1846-1923), who was known for his lyrical poetry and his contributions to the literary magazine "Die Gesellschaft" (The Society).

Another prominent figure was Ewald Kluge (1909-1964), a German archaeologist and historian who made significant discoveries and contributions to the understanding of ancient Germanic cultures. His excavations and research shed light on the settlement patterns and material culture of early Germanic tribes.

It is worth noting that while the surname Kluge has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to emigration and migration patterns. However, the historical and linguistic origins of this name can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of central Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kluge

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

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

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

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