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

Nolker, 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 Nolker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nolker in America

Nolker is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nolker surname appeared 188 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 Nolker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nolker 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 Nolker

The surname Nolker is of German origin and traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, specifically in the town of Nolzing, located near the city of Regensburg. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Nolzer," which was derived from the Germanic word "nol," meaning "hill" or "knoll."

In the 13th century, records show a family bearing the name Nolzer residing in Nolzing. This family likely took their surname from the place where they lived, a common practice during that time. As the name spread to other regions of Germany, the spelling evolved to "Nolker," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and dialect.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Nolker can be found in the "Stiftungsbuch des Klosters St. Emmeram," a historical record from the 14th century that mentions a person named Chunrat Nolker from Regensburg. This record provides evidence of the surname's use and its connection to the Bavarian region.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Nolker was Johann Nolker (1504-1570), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Nuremberg and later became a professor at the University of Wittenberg, where he worked alongside Martin Luther.

Another historical figure with the surname Nolker was Hans Nolker (1508-1585), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg. His woodcuts and engravings depict religious and allegorical scenes, and his works can be found in various museums and collections across Europe.

In the 17th century, a prominent Nolker was Johann Jakob Nolker (1623-1695), a German lawyer and political figure who served as the mayor of Frankfurt am Main from 1677 to 1695. He played a crucial role in the city's governance and contributed to its development during his tenure.

Towards the end of the 18th century, Johann Georg Nolker (1746-1819) was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was born in Regensburg and later became a professor at the University of Erlangen, where he conducted research and published several works on astronomical observations and calculations.

As the Nolker family spread throughout Germany and beyond, the spelling of the name evolved further, with variations such as "Nölker," "Nölcker," and "Nölckers" appearing in historical records. While the name has maintained its German roots, it has also been adopted by families in other countries, particularly those with German ancestry or ties to the regions where the Nolker name originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nolker

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

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

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

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