Kreiling last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kreiling

A German surname derived from the word "kreillen" meaning "to lament" or "mourn".

Kreiling, 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 Kreiling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kreiling in America

Kreiling is the 42455th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kreiling surname appeared 511 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 Kreiling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kreiling 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 42455 48021 -12.30%
Count 511 414 20.97%
Proportion per 100k 0.17 0.15 12.50%

The history of the last name Kreiling

The surname Kreiling is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where it was likely derived from the German word "Krail," meaning "a small village or hamlet." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who hailed from a specific small village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kreiling can be found in a document from the town of Landshut, Bavaria, dated 1587, which mentions a certain Hans Kreiling. This document serves as a valuable historical reference, providing evidence of the name's existence during that time period.

In the 17th century, the name Kreiling appeared in various church records and municipal registers across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. These records often included variations in the spelling, such as Krailing, Kreyling, and Kreiling, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in those times.

During the 18th century, the Kreiling name gained prominence with the birth of Johann Kreiling (1720-1792), a respected German theologian and philosopher. His scholarly works and teachings contributed to the intellectual discourse of the era, making him a notable figure associated with this surname.

Another prominent individual bearing the Kreiling name was Wilhelm Kreiling (1845-1919), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and public spaces in Munich and other parts of Bavaria, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of the region.

In the 19th century, the Kreiling surname spread beyond Germany's borders as emigrants from German-speaking regions sought new opportunities in other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such individual was Karl Kreiling (1857-1923), a German-American industrialist and entrepreneur who founded a successful manufacturing company in Chicago, Illinois.

The name Kreiling has also been linked to various place names in Germany, such as Krailing, a municipality located in the district of Munich. This connection further reinforces the theory that the surname originated from a specific geographic location or settlement.

Throughout its history, the surname Kreiling has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including scholars, architects, entrepreneurs, and more. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings in a small Bavarian village, it has since left an indelible mark on various aspects of German history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kreiling

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

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 Kreiling was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 98.04% 501
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Kreiling has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 98.04% 97.83% 0.21%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Kreiling last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kreiling-surname-popularity/.

"Kreiling last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kreiling-surname-popularity/. Accessed 7 June, 2025

Kreiling last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kreiling-surname-popularity/.

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