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

Linafelter, 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 Linafelter surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Linafelter in America

Linafelter is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Linafelter surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Linafelter.

The history of the last name Linafelter

The surname Linafelter is believed to have its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It likely dates back to the Medieval period, roughly around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is most prevalent in areas that are today part of Germany, particularly in regions such as Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Linafelter appears to be a variant of a locational surname. Its etymology suggests it may derive from two components: "Lina," which can be linked to a personal name, and "Felter," which comes from the German word “Feld,” meaning field. The combination would traditionally denote "field of Lina" or a field associated with someone named Lina. Locational surnames were commonly adopted as people began to migrate from their places of origin to new areas, requiring a means of identification associated with their homeland.

Over time, the surname Linafelter underwent various changes in spelling. Early records show different iterations such as Linnenfelter, Linfelder, and Linnafelter. One of the earliest known mentions of the name occurs in a 14th-century Bavarian land registry, which recorded an Ulrich Linnenfelder as a landowner and farmer. This document provided a glimpse into the name's early association with agrarian life.

Another historical reference occurs in a 16th-century Rhineland church registry, where a Heinrich Linafelter is documented as having been baptized in 1582. This record indicates the surname had by then become more standardized in its spelling and continued to hold significance in local communities.

The name appears again in the early 18th century in records from Pennsylvania, USA, pointing to German emigration during that period. Johannes Linafelter, born in 1690, was among the early German settlers in the American colonies. His descendants maintained the name, contributing to its presence in the New World.

In 1776, Anna Linafelter was noted as a witness in a legal document in Bavaria, highlighting the name's continued European roots and the prominence of female bearers of the surname in historical records. Another notable individual is Friedrich Linafelter, born in 1821, who was recognized for his work as a craftsman in Stuttgart, illustrating the family's integration into urban professions by the 19th century.

Finally, one of the most recognized bearers of the name in modern historical context is Wilhelm Linafelter, born in 1855, who gained fame for his contributions to early industrial engineering in Germany. His work and innovations left a lasting impact, solidifying the name's legacy in the annals of history.

The surname Linafelter, with its Germanic roots and evolution through centuries, continues to bear a rich historical tapestry. It serves as a testament to the migratory and socio-economic shifts experienced by those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Linafelter

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Linafelter 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.

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

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

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