Knoblauch
A German surname derived from the words "Knob" meaning garlic and "Lauch" meaning leek.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,954 Americans carry the last name Knoblauch. That puts it at #17,014 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.57 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 175,412 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Knoblauch 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
2.0K
1 in 175,412
Census rank
#17,014
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,670 bearers of the surname Knoblauch in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17014th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Knoblauch, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Knoblauch
The surname Knoblauch is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "knobelouch" which means garlic. This name likely originated as a descriptive surname for someone who grew or sold garlic.
The name Knoblauch can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, given to individuals involved in the cultivation, trade, or preparation of garlic.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Knoblauch is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a person named "Knoblouch" in 1351.
In the 15th century, the name Knoblauch appeared in the Stadtbuch (city book) of Breslau, which was a register of citizens and property owners in the city. This record includes entries for individuals with the surname Knoblauch, indicating their presence in the region during that time period.
A notable figure with the surname Knoblauch was Johann Knoblauch (1518-1601), a German Lutheran theologian and reformer who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
Another historical figure bearing this surname was Christian Knoblauch (1676-1753), a German composer and organist who is known for his contributions to the development of keyboard music during the Baroque period.
In the 19th century, Johann Knoblauch (1808-1865) was a German novelist and playwright, who wrote popular works such as "Die Spieler" (The Gamblers) and "Die Schwaben" (The Swabians).
The surname Knoblauch has also been associated with various places and locations in Germany. For instance, Knoblauchhausen is a village in the district of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, which likely derived its name from the surname.
While the name Knoblauch is predominantly found in Germany, it has also been carried by individuals from other parts of Europe and beyond, as a result of migration and cultural exchange.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Knoblauch
Among Census respondents with the surname Knoblauch, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Knoblauch 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 Knoblauch surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Black or African American0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Knoblauch 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 | #17,014 | #17,014 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,670 | 1,670 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.57 | 0.57 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Knoblauch bearers went from 1,670 to 1,670 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,014 to #17,014.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Knoblauch
FAQ
Knoblauch surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Knoblauch?
The surname Knoblauch holds position #17,014 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,954 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Knoblauch surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Knoblauch, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). 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.