2000
#123,314
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Rauchle
A German occupational surname derived from the German word for chimney sweeper.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Rauchle. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rauchle surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Rauchle in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rauchle, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rauchle
The surname Rauchle has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Rauch," which means smoke or haze. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive name to someone who lived near a smoky area or worked in a profession that involved smoke, such as a blacksmith or a baker.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Rauchle can be found in German church records and local registries from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. One of the earliest known mentions is in the parish records of the town of Herrenberg in Baden-Württemberg, where a Johannes Rauchle was recorded in 1597.
Over time, the name Rauchle has undergone various spelling variations, such as Rauchl, Rauchle, and Rauchlen. These variations are often attributed to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. Some of these variations may also be linked to specific place names or locations where the name was prominent.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Rauchle. One of the earliest recorded was Johann Michael Rauchle (1648-1724), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion.
Another noteworthy figure was Friedrich Rauchle (1792-1867), a German theologian and philosopher who was a prominent advocate of Christian socialism and the rights of the working class. His writings and teachings had a significant influence on the development of social and political thought in 19th century Germany.
In the 20th century, Gerhard Rauchle (1905-1985) was a German architect known for his modernist designs and his work in urban planning. He was responsible for several notable buildings and housing projects in Germany during the post-World War II reconstruction period.
Bernd Rauchle (1927-2004) was a German artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his abstract and expressionist works. His sculptures and installations can be found in public spaces and galleries throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
Finally, Heinz Rauchle (1938-2018) was a German businessman and entrepreneur who founded a successful manufacturing company specializing in automotive components. He was widely respected for his contributions to the local economy and his philanthropic efforts in his community.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Rauchle who have left their mark in various fields throughout history. While the name may have humble origins, it has been carried by notable figures who have contributed to the cultural, intellectual, and economic fabric of Germany and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rauchle
Among Census respondents with the surname Rauchle, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Rauchle bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rauchle surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.5% · 117
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rauchle
Rauchle appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
-2 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,734 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-7 bearers (-5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,001 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #123,314 | 129 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 9,734 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.5%) | Down 9,001 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rauchle surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #133,048 | #142,049 | -6.8% |
| Count | 127 | 120 | -5.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rauchle bearers went from 127 to 120 (-5.5% change). The surname moved down 9,001 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #142,049.
FAQ
Rauchle surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rauchle?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Rauchle. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Rauchle?
Rauchle ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Rauchle. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Rauchle.
Has Rauchle become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rauchle went from 127 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 7 (-5.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Rauchle?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rauchle, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rauchle in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.5% (117 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rauchle appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (97.5%), Hispanic (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rauchle (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rauchle mean?
A German occupational surname derived from the German word for chimney sweeper. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rauchle (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Rauchle?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.