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

Niffenegger, 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 Niffenegger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niffenegger in America

Niffenegger is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niffenegger surname appeared 232 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 Niffenegger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niffenegger 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 Niffenegger

The surname Niffenegger is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century in the region of Bavaria. The name is derived from the Old High German words "nifen" meaning "nephew" and "egger" referring to a person from a specific place, likely a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niffenegger can be found in the Familienbuch, a genealogical record compiled in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the late 15th century. This document mentions a family bearing the surname Niffenegger residing in the area during that time period.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various municipal records and church registers across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. These records often include variations in spelling, such as Niffennegger, Niffenecker, and Niffeneger, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the time.

Notable individuals bearing the Niffenegger surname include Johann Niffenegger (1582-1647), a renowned clockmaker and blacksmith from Augsburg, who was renowned for his intricate and innovative timepieces. Another prominent figure was Maria Niffenegger (1688-1753), a respected herbalist and midwife from the town of Schwäbisch Hall, whose knowledge of medicinal plants was widely sought after.

In the 18th century, the name Niffenegger appears in the records of several German-speaking communities in what is now Switzerland, particularly in the cantons of Basel and Zürich. One such individual was Hans Niffenegger (1723-1802), a successful merchant and landowner from Basel who played a significant role in the city's trade guilds.

As the 19th century dawned, the Niffenegger name spread beyond its German roots, with some members of the family emigrating to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas. One notable example is Friedrich Niffenegger (1845-1912), a German-born engineer who contributed to the construction of several major railway projects in Argentina.

Throughout its history, the surname Niffenegger has been associated with various professions and occupations, from artisans and tradesmen to scholars and professionals. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its Germanic origins and significance as a place-based surname have remained intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niffenegger

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

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

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

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