Pfaltzgraff last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Pfaltzgraff

A locational surname related to an area inhabited by a count palatine.

Pfaltzgraff, 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 Pfaltzgraff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pfaltzgraff in America

Pfaltzgraff is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pfaltzgraff surname appeared 197 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 Pfaltzgraff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pfaltzgraff 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank9312595091-2.09%
Count19717810.13%
Proportion per 100k0.070.070.00%

The history of the last name Pfaltzgraff

The surname Pfaltzgraff has its origins in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German words "Pfalz," meaning "palatinate" or "territory ruled by a count palatine," and "Graf," meaning "count" or "earl." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals holding official positions or titles in the Palatinate region of Germany.

One of the earliest known references to the Pfaltzgraff name can be found in the records of the city of Heidelberg, located in the former Palatinate region. In 1562, a document mentions a certain Johann Pfaltzgraff, who was a prominent citizen and landowner in the area. This provides evidence that the name was already well-established in the region during the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Pfaltzgraff name appears in the records of the town of Otterberg, also situated in the Palatinate region. A notable individual from this period was Hans Pfaltzgraff, born in 1623, who served as a respected magistrate and played a significant role in the local administration.

As the centuries progressed, the Pfaltzgraff family spread to other parts of Germany and beyond. In the late 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Alsace region of France, where they adopted the French spelling "Pfalzgraf." One of the most renowned members of this branch was Jean-Baptiste Pfalzgraf, born in 1775, who became a distinguished military officer and served in the Napoleonic Wars.

Another notable figure with the Pfaltzgraff surname was Wilhelm Pfaltzgraff, born in 1820 in the city of Cologne. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his extensive research on German folklore and mythology.

In the 19th century, the Pfaltzgraff name also appeared in the United States, as German immigrants began settling in various parts of the country. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Johann Pfaltzgraff, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1832 and went on to establish a successful business in the city.

Throughout its long history, the Pfaltzgraff surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military officers, civil servants, and entrepreneurs. While the exact origins of the name may remain shrouded in the mists of time, its connection to the Palatinate region of Germany and the potential association with noble or official titles suggest a rich and intriguing history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pfaltzgraff

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

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 Pfaltzgraff was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only94.42%186
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races3.55%7
Hispanic Origin(S)%(S)

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 Pfaltzgraff has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White94.42%96.63%-2.31%
Black(S)%0.00%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races3.55%(S)%(S)%
Hispanic(S)%0.00%(S)%

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

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

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