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

Schwartz, 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 Schwartz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schwartz in America

Schwartz is the 345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schwartz surname appeared 90,071 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 31 people would have the surname Schwartz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schwartz 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 Schwartz

The surname Schwartz originated from the German language, specifically in the regions of Germany and Switzerland, dating back to the early medieval period. Derived from the German word "schwarz," meaning "black," the name was likely originally a nickname or a descriptive term given to individuals with dark hair, complexion, or attire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Schwartz can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents from the 9th to the 13th centuries, where it appears as "Swarzo" in the year 1195. Additionally, the surname is documented in the Biberacher Urkundenregesten, a compilation of records from the town of Biberach in southern Germany, in the year 1271.

The name Schwartz had various spellings throughout history, including Schwarz, Schwartzmann, Schwarzkopf, and Schwartzel, among others. Some notable bearers of this surname include the German philosopher and social theorist Karl Schwartz (1812-1885), the American industrialist and philanthropist Charles M. Schwab (1862-1939), and the legendary German composer and pianist Franz Schwartz (1810-1849).

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Johannes Schwartz, also known as Johannes de Nigra Villa, was a renowned theologian and author who played a significant role in the intellectual and religious discourse of the time. Another historical figure was Berthold Schwartz, a German monk and alchemist credited with the invention of gunpowder in the 13th century, though this claim is disputed by some historians.

The surname Schwartz has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Europe. For instance, the town of Schwarzach in Austria, the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) region in southwestern Germany, and the Schwarzenburg Castle in Switzerland all bear connections to the name and its meaning.

Across different eras and regions, the Schwartz surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, military leaders, and politicians. Some notable examples include the German painter Hans Schwartz (1492-1567), the Swiss theologian and reformer Rudolf Schwartz (1499-1584), and the Prussian military leader and statesman Otto von Schwartz (1836-1917).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schwartz

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

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

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

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