Seinfeld
A surname with German origins meaning "new field" or "new clearing".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Seinfeld. That puts it at #110,286 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Seinfeld surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#110,286
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
160
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 160 bearers of the surname Seinfeld in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110286th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Seinfeld, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Seinfeld
The surname Seinfeld is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words "sein" meaning "his" and "feld" meaning "field." It was likely originally a habitational name for someone who lived near a particular field or area of land. It's believed to have originated in the 13th or 14th century in the German-speaking regions of Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Seinfeld can be found in the medieval German records from the town of Seinfeld, located in the present-day state of Hesse, Germany. The town was first mentioned in historical documents dating back to the year 1265, suggesting the surname may have originated around this time or shortly after.
The Seinfeld name appears to have been relatively uncommon throughout much of history, with only a handful of notable individuals bearing this surname. One early example is Johann Seinfeld, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his work on religious texts and his contributions to theological debates of the time.
In the 18th century, a notable figure with the Seinfeld surname was Friedrich Seinfeld, a German philosopher and writer born in 1724. He published several works on ethics and moral philosophy, which were influential during the Enlightenment period.
Another individual of historical significance was Karl Seinfeld (1805-1879), a German-born American farmer and entrepreneur who helped establish one of the first successful commercial vineyards in the Napa Valley region of California in the mid-19th century.
Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the Seinfeld surname was the American comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld, born in 1954. He is best known for co-creating and starring in the iconic sitcom "Seinfeld," which aired from 1989 to 1998 and is considered one of the greatest and most influential comedies in television history.
While the Seinfeld surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in Germany and has been associated with notable figures in various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Seinfeld
Among Census respondents with the surname Seinfeld, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Seinfeld bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Seinfeld surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Seinfeld surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #110,286 | #110,286 | 0.0% |
| Count | 160 | 160 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Seinfeld bearers went from 160 to 160 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #110,286 to #110,286.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Seinfeld
FAQ
Seinfeld surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Seinfeld?
The surname Seinfeld holds position #110,286 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Seinfeld surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Seinfeld, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.