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

Schaller, 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 Schaller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schaller in America

Schaller is the 5873rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schaller surname appeared 5,875 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 Schaller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schaller 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 Schaller

The surname Schaller originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the German word "schallen," which means "to resound" or "to sound." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who was known for having a loud or resonant voice.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Schaller can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of southern Germany, including Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some of the earliest spellings included Schaler, Schaeler, and Schalere.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Schaller, a prominent German scholar and clergyman who lived in the 15th century (1430-1499). He served as a professor of theology at the University of Ingolstadt and is known for his writings on various theological subjects.

In the 16th century, the Schaller name appeared in several historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents related to the history of Saxony. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of Germany by that time.

Another notable individual with the surname Schaller was Johann Schaller (1572-1634), a German jurist and legal scholar from Nuremberg. He was known for his work on criminal law and served as a professor at the University of Altdorf.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Schaller family settled in the Palatinate region of Germany, and the name appears in records from the town of Kusel. One of the earliest known residents was Jakob Schaller (1621-1688), a farmer and landowner.

As the Schaller family continued to spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, the name also became associated with various place names. For example, the town of Schallern in Austria is believed to be derived from the surname Schaller.

Other notable individuals with the Schaller surname include:

1. Johann Schaller (1777-1847), a German composer and music teacher from Hof, Bavaria.
2. Friedrich Schaller (1813-1891), a German landscape painter and etcher from Nuremberg.
3. Hans Schaller (1885-1967), a Swiss architect and urban planner known for his work in Zürich.
4. Georg Schaller (1926-2022), a German-American biologist and conservationist renowned for his studies on large mammals in the wild.
5. Konrad Schaller (1932-2005), an Austrian actor and stage director, known for his work in theater and television.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schaller

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

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

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

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