Klugman
An Americanized spelling of the German surname meaning "clever" or "wise."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Klugman. That puts it at #42,378 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Klugman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,378
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
512
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 512 bearers of the surname Klugman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42378th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Klugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Klugman
The surname Klugman is of German origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "kluge," meaning "wise" or "clever." It was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was considered intelligent or knowledgeable.
The earliest known records of the name Klugman can be found in various German town and village registers from the late 1300s and early 1400s. These include entries in the records of Nuremberg, Augsburg, and other cities in southern Germany. The name was also present in medieval manuscripts and legal documents, though specific references are scarce.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Klugman was Hans Klugman, a merchant and tradesman who lived in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, in the late 15th century. Another early bearer of the name was Johann Klugman, a scholar and theologian born in Erfurt, Germany, in 1520.
As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it underwent slight variations in spelling, including Klugmann, Klugmen, and Klugmenn. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciation differences.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Klugman. These include:
1. Friedrich Klugman (1812-1884), a German philologist and classical scholar known for his work on ancient Greek and Roman literature.
2. Adolph Klugman (1825-1876), a German-American journalist and newspaper editor who co-founded the San Francisco Chronicle.
3. Jakob Klugman (1863-1949), a German-born American rabbi and author who served as the president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
4. Harvey Klugman (1905-1984), an American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.
5. Jack Klugman (1922-2012), an American actor best known for his roles in the television series "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy, M.E."
While the surname Klugman has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was likely first adopted as a descriptive nickname for an intelligent or wise individual.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Klugman
Among Census respondents with the surname Klugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Klugman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Klugman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Klugman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,378 | #42,378 | 0.0% |
| Count | 512 | 512 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Klugman bearers went from 512 to 512 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #42,378 to #42,378.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Klugman
FAQ
Klugman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Klugman?
The surname Klugman holds position #42,378 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Klugman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Klugman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.