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

Laabs, 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 Laabs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Laabs in America

Laabs is the 17406th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Laabs surname appeared 1,621 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 Laabs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Laabs 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 Laabs

The surname LAABS is believed to have originated from the Low German language spoken in northern Germany and the surrounding regions. The name is thought to derive from the Old Low German word "lâve," which means "arcade" or "gallery." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked near such a structure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAABS can be found in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical documents from the city-state of Bremen, dating back to the 13th century. In these records, the name appears as "Laves" and "Lauves," indicating its historical connection to the Low German word mentioned earlier.

The LAABS name has also been linked to various place names in northern Germany, such as Lavelsloh and Lavesum, further reinforcing its regional origins. These place names incorporate elements of the original word "lâve," suggesting that the surname may have initially been a locative name, identifying a person's place of origin or residence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname LAABS. One of the earliest recorded was Johann Laabs (c. 1500 – 1570), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Lübeck. Another notable figure was Friedrich Laabs (1799 – 1874), a German landscape painter known for his depictions of the countryside around Berlin.

In the 19th century, the LAABS name gained prominence through individuals like Wilhelm Laabs (1837 – 1909), a German writer and journalist who published several works on the history and culture of Pomerania. Additionally, Carl Laabs (1858 – 1942) was a German-American architect who designed numerous buildings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and contributed to the city's architectural landscape.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname LAABS was Heinz Laabs (1911 – 1990), a German naval officer who served during World War II and later became a successful businessman in postwar West Germany.

While the LAABS name has its roots in northern Germany, it has since spread across various regions and countries, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the Low German language and the historical regions where it was spoken, providing a glimpse into the cultural and linguistic heritage of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Laabs

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

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

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

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