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

Nolte, 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 Nolte surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nolte in America

Nolte is the 5624th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nolte surname appeared 6,180 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Nolte.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nolte 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 Nolte

The surname Nolte originates from Germany, with its earliest roots traced back to the 13th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old German word "nolten," which means "stubborn" or "headstrong."

In its early years, the name was predominantly found in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia in northern Germany. Some variations in spelling were also seen, such as Nolten, Nolten, and Nolde.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in several entries, primarily related to land ownership and transactions.

During the 16th century, the Nolte surname gained prominence in various parts of Germany. Notable individuals from this period include Hans Nolte (1525-1592), a renowned German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

As the name spread across Europe, it found its way into historical records in neighboring countries as well. In the Netherlands, the Nolte family can be traced back to the 17th century, with records showing their presence in the province of Overijssel.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable figures with the Nolte surname. Johann Nolte (1718-1781), a German composer and organist, made significant contributions to the music scene of his time. Additionally, Friedrich Nolte (1753-1825), a German writer and poet, gained recognition for his literary works.

In the 19th century, the Nolte family continued to leave their mark across various fields. Carl Nolte (1806-1884), a German-American artist and lithographer, is renowned for his depictions of life in the American West. Meanwhile, Vincent Nolte (1858-1925), a Belgian architect, designed several iconic buildings in Brussels, including the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

As the name spread globally, it found roots in various parts of the world, including the United States and Australia. Prominent individuals from more recent times include Nick Nolte (born 1941), an acclaimed American actor known for his roles in films like "The Prince of Tides" and "Affliction."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nolte

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!