2000
#146,011
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Schrein
A German surname originally denoting one who made or sold shrines.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Schrein. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Schrein 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Schrein in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Schrein, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Schrein
The surname SCHREIN originated in Germany, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "schrein," which means "cabinet" or "chest." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with a profession related to woodworking or crafting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SCHREIN can be found in a historical document from the city of Nuremberg, dated around 1385. The document mentions a certain "Hans Schrein," who was likely a craftsman or carpenter by trade. This provides evidence that the name was already established in the region during the late medieval period.
In the 16th century, the name SCHREIN appears in various records from the German states of Bavaria and Saxony. One notable figure from this era was Johann Schrein (1515-1568), a Protestant theologian and scholar who taught at the University of Leipzig. His writings on religious matters were influential during the Reformation period.
As the name spread across different regions of Germany, variations in spelling emerged, such as Schreyn, Schreiner, and Schreyner. These variations often reflected local dialects and preferences in orthography. In some instances, the name also took on localized forms, such as Schreinert or Schreinert, which incorporated place names.
During the 18th century, the SCHREIN surname gained prominence in the arts and literature. Johann Friedrich Schrein (1728-1786) was a renowned German painter and etcher, known for his landscapes and architectural depictions. His works can be found in various museums across Europe.
Moving into the 19th century, the name SCHREIN became associated with the field of education. Carl Friedrich Schrein (1807-1885) was a German educator and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Romance languages and their influence on German dialects.
Throughout its history, the surname SCHREIN has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, scholars, artists, and educators. While its origins may be rooted in a specific trade, the name has transcended its original occupational association and become a part of the diverse tapestry of German surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Schrein
Among Census respondents with the surname Schrein, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Schrein 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 Schrein surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4% · 109
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Schrein
Schrein 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
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
+7 bearers (+6.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,336 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+7 bearers (+6.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,836 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #146,011 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.7%) | Down 2,336 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.3%) | Up 4,836 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 Schrein 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 | #148,347 | #143,511 | 3.3% |
| Count | 111 | 118 | 6.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Schrein bearers went from 111 to 118 (+6.3% change). The surname moved up 4,836 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #143,511.
FAQ
Schrein surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Schrein?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Schrein. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Schrein?
Schrein ranks #143,511 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 118 people with the surname Schrein. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), 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 Schrein.
Has Schrein become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Schrein went from 111 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 7 (+6.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #148,347 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Schrein?
Among Census respondents with the surname Schrein, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (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 Schrein in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.4% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Schrein appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.4%), Hispanic (2.5%), Two or More Races (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 Schrein (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 Schrein mean?
A German surname originally denoting one who made or sold shrines. 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 Schrein (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 Schrein?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.