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

Lowenthal, 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 Lowenthal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lowenthal in America

Lowenthal is the 20636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lowenthal surname appeared 1,283 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 Lowenthal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lowenthal 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 Lowenthal

The surname Lowenthal is of German origin, derived from the combination of the German words "Löwe" (lion) and "Thal" (valley). It is believed to have emerged in the late Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century, and was initially used as a descriptive name for people living in a valley where lions were commonly found or as a distinguishing name for someone known for their bravery or strength, akin to a lion.

The earliest known record of the name Lowenthal dates back to the 15th century in the German region of Bavaria. A document from 1487 mentions a certain Hans Lowenthal, a landowner and farmer residing in the village of Dingolfing. This suggests that the name was already well-established in that area by that time.

In the 16th century, the name Lowenthal appears in several historical records, including a mention of a Johann Lowenthal, a merchant from Nuremberg, in a trade document dated 1542. Another notable figure was Anna Lowenthal, born in 1578 in Regensburg, who became a prominent figure in the local textile industry.

The 17th century saw the rise of the Lowenthal family in the city of Frankfurt, where they established themselves as successful bankers and merchants. One of the most prominent members was Samuel Lowenthal (1628-1701), a wealthy financier and philanthropist who donated generously to various charitable causes and funded the construction of a synagogue in Frankfurt.

In the 18th century, the name Lowenthal spread across different parts of Germany, as well as to neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland. Notable individuals from this period include Johann Friedrich Lowenthal (1723-1789), a renowned composer and musician from Dresden, and Maria Lowenthal (1756-1819), a celebrated actress and theater manager in Vienna.

As the 19th century ushered in a wave of emigration from Europe to other parts of the world, the Lowenthal surname spread to various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable figure was Max Lowenthal (1888-1964), a German-American lawyer and civil rights activist who played a key role in desegregating public schools in the United States.

Throughout its history, the Lowenthal surname has been associated with various professions and fields, ranging from business and finance to the arts and academia. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since become a part of the cultural fabric of many nations worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lowenthal

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

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

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

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