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

Orbach, 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 Orbach surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orbach in America

Orbach is the 46219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orbach surname appeared 461 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 Orbach.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orbach 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 Orbach

The surname Orbach is of German origin, and it is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German words "or," which means "border," and "bach," meaning "stream" or "brook." This suggests that the name might have referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook along a border or boundary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orbach can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Principality of Anhalt in Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in several other medieval German records and manuscripts, indicating its widespread use during that time.

In the 16th century, there are records of an Orbach family residing in the town of Worms, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. This town was known for its thriving Jewish community, and it is possible that some members of the Orbach family were of Jewish descent.

One notable figure with the surname Orbach was Johann Orbach, a German artist and engraver who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his intricate copper engravings and woodcuts, many of which depicted religious scenes and portraits.

Another historical figure with the name Orbach was Karl Orbach, a German philosopher and educator who lived in the 19th century. He was born in 1822 and was a prominent figure in the field of education, advocating for progressive teaching methods and the importance of practical learning.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Orbach was Jerry Orbach, an American actor best known for his roles in popular television shows such as Law & Order and Dirty Dancing. He was born in 1935 and had a successful career spanning over five decades, earning numerous awards and accolades for his performances.

Another notable Orbach was Rebecca Orbach, a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on issues related to feminism and women's rights. She was born in 1954 and is known for her influential works, including "Fat is a Feminist Issue" and "Bitter Chocolate: Exploring the Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet."

While the surname Orbach is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, philosophers, educators, actors, and authors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orbach

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

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

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

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