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

Kolb, 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 Kolb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kolb in America

Kolb is the 3064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kolb surname appeared 11,705 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Kolb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kolb 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 Kolb

The surname Kolb originated in Germany, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "Kolb," which means "calf" or "young ox." It is believed that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who resembled a calf or had a connection to calves or cattle.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kolb can be found in various German documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, the name appears in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of historical documents from the Westphalian region of Germany, dating back to the year 1300.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Kolb was Johannes Kolb, a German merchant who lived in the 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from the city of Nuremberg, where he conducted his business dealings.

In the 16th century, the name Kolb gained prominence with the birth of Kaspar Kolb, a German humanist and scholar who lived from 1534 to 1594. He was a renowned educator and writer, and his works on pedagogy and philosophy were widely read and influential during his time.

Another notable figure with the surname Kolb was Johann Kolb, a German artist who lived from 1597 to 1645. He was a talented engraver and etcher, and his works were highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts across Europe.

During the 17th century, the name Kolb appeared in various places throughout Germany, including the town of Kolbsheim in the Alsace region. This town's name is believed to be derived from the same root as the surname Kolb, further highlighting the connection between the name and the region.

In the 18th century, one of the most prominent figures with the surname Kolb was Johann Kaspar Kolb, a German naturalist and explorer who lived from 1714 to 1784. He traveled extensively in southern Africa and documented his observations and discoveries in his book, "The Present State of the Cape of Good Hope."

As the centuries passed, the surname Kolb continued to spread across Germany and other parts of Europe, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields, including science, literature, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kolb

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!